Health Fitness :: Fitness
Get lower back pain relief with this morning stretch by Stephen Cabral
EDGE ContributorMonday Aug 3, 2009 With every year that passes you probably feel more and more stiff... but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Although decades of sitting in a chair have tightened certain muscle groups that doesn’t mean you can’t undo this tightness and improve your flexibility almost immediately.
One concern 80% of the population has (and I’m willing to bet that includes you) is some type of lower back pain or stiffness from time to time. Like most people you probably feel most stiff 1st thing in the morning when the alarm clock sounds and you roll out of bed.
It can often take hours (if ever) to loosen up your lower back as you go through your day. This inflexibility can also lead to an increased risk of injury, decreased quality of life, and a drain on your energy levels.
The nice thing about the simple stretch I’m about to show you is that you can loosen up your lower back and hips in about 60 seconds versus waiting hours for relief.
Here’s how to get lower back pain relief with this powerful stretch:
1. Sit cross-legged on a towel, mat, or carpet
2. Reach both arms straight overhead
3. Stretch your torso towards the sky lengthening your spine
4. Slowly fall forward keeping your arms outstretched
5. Allow your arms to touch the floor in front of you
Tips to remember:
1. Inhale as you reach up and elongate your spine
2. Exhale as you fall forward
3. Reach as high as you can overhead
4. Reach as far as you can when your hands touch the floor
5. Keep your hips touching the ground at all times
Move slowly through each stretch and hold for about 10 - 20 seconds at the bottom. Do not hold your breath and never push past the point where you feel tension on your hips and lower back.
Try including this morning stretch in your daily routine and I know you’ll enjoy the results!
Stephen Cabral is a national health correspondent with over 10 years of credentials. He holds national and international certifications in strength & conditioning, personal training, yoga and nutrition. For more information go to www.StephenCabral.com
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