My 3 MUST-DO Stretches!

End your day with my 3 light and easy stretches. Did you know that stretching has been shown to relieve stress, improve posture, and help clear your mind? Stretching relieves stress because it relieves tight muscles that tense due to stress. Haven’t you ever heard of fake it till you make it? Well it works the same way with stretching! Once you begin to relieve those tight, tense muscles (i.e. around your neck and chest, your lower back), then your body feels more relaxed, and eventually your brain will catch up feel more relaxed too!

Stretching improves posture because it lengthens tight muscles that pull areas of the body away from their intended position. We sit for the majority of our day, and consequently our chest gets tight, our neck gets tight, our hip flexors get SUPER tight! So stretch them out and you’ll start walking taller!

For me personally, stretching has been an integral part of my training as a professional dancer. I take stretching as seriously as exercise, and I truly believe that my flexibility has steered my body away from injury (KNOCK ON WOOD!). Exercise and stretching go hand in hand. I always stretch after I workout once my muscles are warm to keep my body loose, flexible, and fluid. I stretch for at least 10 minutes everyday, but one day of the week, I will get a really long stretch in – about 45 minutes to an hour. I’ll take a yoga or hot yoga class that focuses on stretching, or I’ll stretch at home while I watch TV! To get you started, try my 3 stretches below. You’ll also find a video explaining the stretches 🙂 Share my blog with a friend and stretch together!

Check out my 30-day Get Stretchy program stretching and mobility plan that will increase flexibility, support cognitive function, provide energy for your day, and relieve pain caused from tightness!

ACTION: Sequentially move through each stretch, holding each for 30 seconds, then repeat each stretch 3 times through.