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It can be a triple-threat stretchand even a sextuplet stretch if you do it on both sides.
Thats just finethe figure four is already putting in work!
Doing so is more important than you might think.
vice president of education atStretchLab
However, a little love in the form of stretching can go a long way.
A daily practice helps the muscles (and the brain) remember this state.
The more you do it, the better you get at it.Muscle memory is real!
We say that stretching consistently is best tohelp build flexibility.
Ten minutes a day is better than an hour once a week.
Thisboost in circulationhelps revive musclesalmost like rehydrating them with a fresh supply of nutrients.
What muscles should you stretch?
All the muscles throughout your body deserve to get a stretch in.
But our smartphone and computer-focused modern lives hit some parts of the body harder than others.
vice president of education atStretchLab
This is what I need to do.
Just stretch them out.
That and stop working.
You should also get familiar withhow to stretch hamstrings.
Tight hamstrings can also pull your pelvis out of alignment, leading to poor posture.
That in turn stresses the spine and the muscles surrounding it.
So incorporating back stretches is also a good idea.
Now, remember that figure four variation that will do just that?
Its time to get into it.
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This will deepen the hip and glute stretch by changing where youre putting pressure on the muscle.
Maybe slow down in those spots, really focusing on releasing all those muscles around the hip.
But thats not all.
Place your arms out to the side, so youre making a T shape.
Do you feel that chest opening?
Everythings really stretching out here, De Winter says.
Neck, shoulders, chest, spine, thighs, hips, glutes, and hamstrings.
Did you know a figure four could do all that?
Equipment needed:None.
Who is this for?
Figure four stretch with hamstring extensions (30 seconds)
2.
Rocking figure four stretch (30 seconds)
3.
Twisting cactus stretch (1 minute)
Repeat moves 1-3 on the other side
4.
Seated side stretch (1 minute per side)
5.
…
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