ab stretch

Hands down, this is one of my favorite stretches to do on an exercise ball. It feels good on your back, but also gives your abs, chest, and shoulders a wonderful stretch. It's the type of stretch you do and immediately say, "ahhh."

• Sit on an exercise ball, lean back, and walk your feet out so the ball is now underneath your spine. Keep your knees bent and your feet hip distance apart for stability.
• Slowly walk your feet away from you to straighten your legs.
• Extend your arms overhead to increase the stretch.
• Stay here for 30 seconds, breathing deeply as you lengthen through the spine.
• To release, walk your feet in and sit up.

I try to do this stretch after spin class or long bike rides. It's a great antidote for hunching over handlebars or a keyboard.

This woman may look like she's relaxing by the lake, soaking in the warm sun, but she's actually getting an amazing stretch in her chest, shoulders, and abs. This is the perfect stretch to do if you've been sitting hunched over a computer or steering wheel all day. It also feels great the day after doing tons of push-ups.

For details on how to do this stretch, read more

If you woke up with an achy back, have a stiff back from sitting for an extended period of time, or have tense shoulders and a tight neck from a day in the office — well then I have a simple cure for what pains you. The Cat and Cow stretch is an oldie but goodie that doubles as a great warmup for your spine before just about any activity.

The photo above only shows half of this stretch, so to learn how to do the entire move, read more

I had an amazing crunchless ab workout yesterday, so much so that it even hurts to laugh. I'm in dire need of a good stretch for the sides of my torso. Here's a great one that's both relaxing and effective.

Roll an exercise ball on over to you and keep reading

After an intense core strengthening session with your trainer, your abs are so sensitive, it can even hurt to laugh. So here's a relaxing stretch you can do to lengthen your abdominal muscles, and relieve tension in your middle.

For instructions on how to do this stretch, read more

Take a break to stretch your spine and shoulders with this relaxing stretch. Not only does it make your spine feel longer and your shoulders more open, but relaxing your head to the floor also helps relieve stress and tension.

This stretch looks a little sexier than others I've posted, so maybe do this one when you have a little privacy. To learn how, keep reading

Stretching in bed relaxes your body before going to sleep, and it can also be a great way to gently wake up in the morning. This gentle stretch will lengthen the muscles in your abs, chest, and neck, and it'll also increase flexibility in your spine.

To find out how to do this stretch, hop in bed and read more