This week’s video is a 15 minute stretch routine to help loosen up stiff joints and release tight muscles. Do it first thing in the morning to ensure mobility throughout the day, or do it in the afternoon to release some of the day’s built up tension and refresh your body and mind.
Here are a few of the core muscle groups and areas I like to target when stretching.
Spine
Our spine is the foundation for our entire body. If you’ve ever thrown your back out, you know just how true that is!
The spine is a complex network of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. When the spine is in proper working order it can twist and bend side-to-side and front-to-back.
Plus, it carries the majority of our body weight. It’s easy to see why your spine is an important area to target with stretching.
Stretching the neck and spine can help promote proper posture, alleviate back pain, and prevent painful future back injuries.
Knees and Hips
As we age, our joints deteriorate from wear and tear. Two major joints affected are the knees and hips, but these are crucial joints to tend to if we want to maintain our mobility.
Have you ever tried to get up and walk around when you’re suffering knee or hip pain? It’s not a pleasant experience.
The hips and knees are also very closely linked; it’s hard to complete a movement using one without the other. That’s why stretching and maintaining flexibility in both of these areas is important.
Shoulders
The shoulder is the joint with the widest range of motion in the body. Because of that, it’s also one of the most susceptible to injury. We can help prevent shoulder injury and pain through regular stretching.
We need our shoulders to be fully functioning to do a long list of everyday activities, from reaching up and grabbing things off the top shelf to picking up our grandchildren and more.
Not to mention our shoulders are one of the areas where we hold a lot of tension, so stretching them gently feels great.
I hope you enjoy incorporating these stretches into your day.
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