If you have issues with a tight back, or pain in your lower back due to an injury or because you sit all day, give this stretch a try. It's similar to the Upper-Back Release and feels just as good, but it targets the lower part of your spine above the pelvis. If you don't have a block, use a foam roller, a rolled up yoga mat, or place a towel or blanket over a small stack of books (measuring four inches wide, six inches high, and nine inches long).
on Yahoo! |
If you've never stretched using a foam block, then get ready to embark on a whole new realm in the world of stretching. Blocks can be used to get you deeper into stretches than you can on your own. This upper back release is a simple and relaxing exercise that will open your chest and shoulders.
on Yahoo! |
Sometimes it's the little things we can do for optimal health and most of the time it just takes a few minutes, or even seconds, to get back on track.
Do you experience back pain in the morning? If so it's most likely because your back is stiffer and more vulnerable first thing in the morning because of increased fluid and increased pressure in the discs. 
You might not have ever thought about this but what do you do once you've finished 30 minutes of cardio and lifted your last rep of your last set? Go home? Not quite.
I'll admit, I didn't see Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and apparently, I missed out. In this clip, Mr. Fantastic pulls a Stretch Armstrong on the dance floor and "woos" two lovely ladies by swinging them into a tailspin. 
My good friend FitSugar just told me about these exercise videos that are made to improve your sex life. I was worried when she told me they were called Better Sex Through Yoga, but she assured me that they weren't as cheesy as they sounded.
It's a 3-part DVD series, with each video being under 40 minutes long. 
Need to open up and stretch those tight hips and hamstrings? Not only is this a wonderful sequence to start out with before moving onto deeper poses like backbends, but it's also a great way to warm up before or after a run, hike, or bike ride.
Music: "Om Namo Narayana" by Deva Premal
By the way, I'm wearing the Simplicity Pants made by be present. 
Life taxes the human back and spine. After working with so many clients with lower and upper back pain, I sometimes wonder why we ever stood up as a species. It is truly important to keep your spine both supple and strong. 
Sick of getting sick? Join the club. I will do anything and everything it takes to avoid getting sick this winter, and so I was thrilled to find this list of 10 practices that will help you stay away from hospitals, feel healthier, and live longer.
I think it is safe to say that no one enjoys being sidelined by an injury. If you have ever sat on the sidelines and watched your team play, you know how sitting out can hurt almost as much as the injury. On that sad note, here are a few ideas on how to avoid those sports related injuries that put you off your fitness track.
Enter your email below:
|
