We talk a lot about how to lose weight and get healthy on this blog, but when I came across this article on people.com I had to share! Stretching is essential in any workout, but stretching to get beautiful posture is a must!
Most likely you will be wearing a beautiful strapless wedding gown on your big and you want to look amazing in it and these 5 stretches will have you looking amazing standing up in front of your friends and family!
1. Wall angels {works your scapular retractors, muscles between your shoulder blades and chest muscles and core} Get into a wall squat position and rest your arms against the wall with your elbows bent at 90 degrees. Bring your shoulders back, and retract your shoulder blades trying to touch them together. Keeping your shoulder blades together, move your arms up and down the wall.
2. Thoracic spine opener {works lumbar and cervical spine regions} Lie on your side, placing your top knee on a foam roller or rolled-up blanket next to you. From this position, take your top arm and windmill it over to the opposite side, opening up your chest and touching your back shoulder to the ground. Remember to keep your knee on the foam roller/rolled-up blanket the entire time. After stretching one side, switch to the other.
3. Quadraped core activation with reach {works your core} Get into a tabletop position placing a exercise ball between you and a wall. Push your glutes back into the ball, and extend your right arm out in front of you. Hold for 10 seconds before switching arms.
4. Hip flexor stretch {works reduces lower back pain and loosens hips} Get down on one knee in a resting lunge position. Engage your abs and push your hips forward, raising your arm (the one opposite your front knee) above your head. Sink into the stretch.
5. Latissimus dorsi stretch {works scapula and increases your range of motion} For this stretch, you will need to use a TRX band or a heavy resistance band wrapped around a pull-up bar. (If you don’t have a resistance band, try using a door jam like the trainer did here.) Holding both straps, sit back so that your arms are fully extended. Leaning forward, twist your torso to the left so that you are looking under your left arm. Next, step your left leg behind you and over toward your right side. Hold this stretch, and then switch directions.
Happy Stretching! 🙂
Photos and some content courtesy of People.com
