April 18, 2024

Assist Your Hamstring Stretch

Fit Body:

Assisted Hamstring Stretch

If the traditional lying down hamstring stretch is uncomfortable for you, use a towel to assist your stretch. Hamstring flexibility is important for function. That means we need a certain degree of flexibility at the hamstring to be able to sit down in neutral posture with correct lumbar spinal alignment. Instead of adding tension to your upper body to move into the correct stretch position, put your workout towel to good use as a stretching aid. Simply wrap a towel around the arch of your foot, then hold the towel with each hand on the side of your body. Having this extra leverage allows you to keep your elbows closer to the floor, decreasing the tension or stretch in your neck.

Release muscle tension with this stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Side Bend Stretch.

Release muscle tension in your back and shoulders by doing this stretch daily. Stand up. Reach both arms straight up overhead. Lean to your right and hold for 10-20 seconds, release. Lean to your left and hold for 10-20 seconds, then release.

 

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Sore Feet?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Stretch!

If you’re on your feet all day, try this simple Calf Stretch to ease sore feet.

Use a step or a curb, or on any stable platform that is about two inches off the floor. Place your right foot flat on the step, hold on for balance. Place the ball of your left foot on the step with your heel hanging off. Slowly drop your left heel, feeling a gentle stretch in the left calf.  Hold for ten to thirty seconds. Release the stretch. Repeat with your left foot flat on the step and your right heel hanging off.

 

*Always consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Is your alarm set?

Introducing…our Get Fit Quick Tip

Let’s be honest, we don’t always have time to read an entire article offering several ways to add health and fitness into our day. Enter, our new feature that will offer an article-at-a-glance approach, one easy and practical tip to live healthy and fit! This is a tip that you’ll easily remember and be able to implement the very same day. Our tip will be so clear and concise you’ll be motivated to forward it to all your friends and family to inspire them to live healthy and fit as well!

Here’s our first one to get you started:

Set the alarm/timer on your smart phone to signal a Stretch-Break every 2 hours during your day. Taking scheduled stretch-breaks during your day will decrease physical tension and clear your mind. The result: you’ll feel better and think better. Start now!