Healthy happy you.
healthy living
1 5 Good Morning Stretches
Yoga
2 Hip and Back Stretches For Mommies-to-Be
Yoga
3 Stretch It: Cat and Cow
How To
4 Hit the Hay: Knee to Chest Back Stretch
abdominals
5 Pilates Video: Saw Off Your Baby Toe
Yoga
6 Strike a Yoga Pose: Plow
How To
7 Couch Time: Back Release
How To
8 Stretch It: Spinal Twist Against the Wall
How To
9 Stretch It: Kitchen Sink Stretch for the Lats
How To
10 Stretch It: Knee-to-Chest Stretch
How To
11 Stretch It: Spinal Twist Against a Tree
How To
12 No Equipment Necessary: Lying T Dancer
How To
13 Stretch It: Extended Puppy
Fitness
14 Stretch It: Easy Back Stretch
Fitness
15 Stretch It: Rocking Knees to Chest
It may not be the safest idea for an expectant momma to train for an ultra-marathon, race through the lake waterskiing, or hit the trails mountain biking, but she can and should still do moderate exercise. During my pregnancy, prenatal yoga was my saving grace. It strengthened my muscles, increased flexibility and balance (which I lost as my belly grew), and helped me mentally and physically 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 Read more
Springtime weather inspires me to get outside and do some major yard work. I rake, mulch, plant bulbs, pick up fallen branches, and get my vegetable garden prepped. It's a whole lot of bending down, lifting, and carrying heavy loads, and it makes for a very sore lower back. Here's a stretch I love to do at night after a hard day's work of cleanup and gardening, but it also feels great after a Read more
Instead of hitting the snooze button in the morning, I take the extra 10 minutes to stretch. It's a great way to get the juices going in the morning and ease away any stress or tension from the previous day's activity or a funky sleeping position. Since stretching before breaking a sweat is debatable, I keep my morning stretches simple — I don't even have to leave the bed to do them! Try this Read more
Whether you work at a desk all day or suffer from tight lower back muscles, give your back some love with this relaxing spinal twist. Using a wall helps you twist even further, so you'll end up increasing flexibility in your back, which can prevent soreness or pain. To learn how to do this simple stretch, find a wall and read more Read more
One thing I have learned from my years as a Pilates instructor is most folks don't twist enough. The spine likes to rotate. Here is a simple back stretch that feels great after running. It also lengthens the inner thighs and opens the shoulders too. For written instructions on how to do this stretch, just read more 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 Read more
After a stressful day at work or a night out on the town, it may be difficult to rest your mind and body enough to get some shuteye. I like to stretch in bed to inspire calmness, and if you liked the spinal twist bed stretch, here's another one that will target the muscles in your lower back. It's not only great for bedtime; I also like waking up and doing this stretch. For details on how to do Read more
You can increase the flexibility of your spine, abs, shoulders, and hip flexors, all in one move. I picked up this move, the lying T dancer, from American distance runner and Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan. Start slowly moving from side to side to really feel the stretch, then quicken your pace in order to get your heart rate up. If you're curious to know how to do this Read more
It seems that all forms of exercise, from running to ab work, makes for a tight back. Here's one of my favorite twists. I love that you don't have to touch the ground to do, so it is perfect to do after a run. A word of caution: If your back cracks easily, you'll probably hear a few pops with this stretch. Want to know how to do it? Then read more Read more
