March 19, 2024

Stretch Break!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Arm Stretch

If you’ve been sitting at a computer for hours, it’s time for a stretch break. Stand up. Extend your right arm straight out in front of you with your arm parallel to the floor. Curl your fingers down and in. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. Next, extend your left arm straight out in front of you; curl your fingers down and in, then release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

Post-Workout Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Seated Straddle Stretch

Add this post-workout stretch into your routine and feel the full body benefits. Begin seated with your legs wide. Sit up tall, inhale and reach up with your right hand. Exhale and gently reach your hand toward your left, bending your torso. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. Next, inhale and reach up with your left hand. Exhale, and gently bend to your right side. Hold for 10 seconds, then release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing stretch.

 

Posture Reset!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Posture Reset!

Reset your posture after sitting at your desk with this exercise. Lie face down on your stability ball. Pull your torso up slightly to be in line with your legs. Tuck your chin into your chest. Raise both arms up to the side of your body. Rotate your hands to the outside of your body, so your thumbs are facing up. Balance with your legs, and lift both arms up about six inches. Pause for one seconds, and then slowly lower six inches. Start with ten reps.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

After-Your-Computer Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Stretch your Hands!

Been on your computer all day? Do this after-your-computer stretch to ease muscle tension in your hands, wrists and forearms! Place your palms together with your thumbs forward. Gently press your hands together. Pull your shoulders down and back.

End-of-Day Total Body Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Total Body Stretch

Stretch your body into relaxation at the end of the day. Here’s how:

Begin seated with both legs out straight in front of you. Cross your right ankle over your left. Gently walk your hands forward bending your chest toward your knees. Hold for 10-20 seconds or 2 deep breaths, then release. Next, cross your left ankle over your right. Walk your hands forward, and hold for 10-20 seconds or 2 deep breaths, and then release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Post-Workout Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Front Thigh Stretch

The Front Thigh Stretch is a great exercise to do at the end of your walk, run or bike ride. Here’s how:

Begin standing tall with your feet together. Next, take a step back about 3 feet with your right foot. Lower your right knee down toward the floor until you feel a stretch in the front of your right hip and thigh. Hold for 10-30 seconds, then release. Repeat the stretch by stepping back with your left foot about 3 feet, and lower your left knee toward the floor. Hold for 10-30 seconds, then release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Do this stretch after a leg-day workout

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Side Lunge Stretch

Do a Side Lunge Stretch to stretch your inner thigh, hamstring and calf muscles after a leg-day workout. Here’s how:

Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width. Keeping both feet flat, bend your right knee and lunge to your right side. Hold for 10-30 seconds, then release. Next, bend your left knee and lunge to your left side. Hold for 10-30 seconds, then release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Standing Side Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Standing Side Stretch

Do this full body stretch daily to release muscle tension. Begin standing. Reach your right arm straight up overhead, gently lean to your left. Hold for 10-30 seconds or 3 full breaths, then release.  Next, reach your left arm straight up overhead, lean to your right. Hold for 10-30 seconds or 3 full breaths, then release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

All-in-One Shoulder Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Shoulder Stretch!

Stretch your shoulders to alleviate upper body muscle tension. Extend your right arm straight up overhead, and then bend your elbow and place your hand behind your head. Next, reach your left hand down and around your body to your low back. Walk both hands toward the center of your back. Keep your torso upright and your shoulders down and back. Hold for 10-30 seconds, then release. Repeat the stretch with your left arm overhead, and your right arm by your low back. Hold for 10-30 seconds, then release. Never stretch into pain.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

Straighten Up Your Posture

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Straighten Up Your Posture with Wall Snow Angels!

Doing range of motion exercise is effective in reducing muscle tension. Range of motion also works to realign posture after sitting at your desk all day. Range of motion means continuous gentle pain-free movement which can be less strenuous that a stretch hold, especially when muscles are tight. Here’s how to begin:

Stand with your back against a wall. Place both arms along side your body against the wall, with your palms forward. Bend both elbows and slide both arms up the wall about six inches, feeling a gentle stretch across your chest and front shoulder. For intermediate exercises with a good comfortable stretching base, stop when your elbows are about shoulder-level. If you’re new to exercise, stop when your hands are shoulder level. Repeat this moving range of motion 5-8 times.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.