In the world of biohacking, contrast therapy is one of the most popular options. It involves sitting in a sauna or warm shower/bath and then transitioning to a cold bath. Ideally, you go back and forth to improve circulation and accelerate muscle recovery. Many physical therapists and sports medicine specialists use this therapy, but a lot more facilities are becoming available to the general public. 

According to research, contrast therapy can help reduce muscle spasms, pain, fatigue, lactic acid buildup, and swelling following intense exercise. It may also assist with functional mobility of joints and improve range of motion. In this article, we will explore how contrast therapy works and the standout benefits. 

How Does It Work?

Contrast therapy involves alternating between warm and cold temperatures. The science is based on thermotherapy (using heat) and cryotherapy (using cold). The warmth of a sauna causes blood vessels to widen, while the cold of a plunge causes them to narrow. By going back and forth between the two extreme temperatures, you create a pumping effect within the body that may reduce inflammation. This process may also relieve pain and improve joint mobility. 

Most people with soft tissue or joint injuries will benefit from contrast therapy. Some physical therapists also encourage contrast therapy to accelerate healing following orthopedic surgery. Other injuries that may benefit from contrast therapy include:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Dislocated elbow
• Ankle and leg fractures
• Torn meniscus
• Achilles tendonitis
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries

May Alleviate Pain And Accelerate Healing

A 2022 review of studies suggests that contrast therapy is highly effective at easing arthritis pain and stiffness. Researchers noted that it was more effective than a hot bath alone. The extreme cold works to block pain signals as well. Separate research found that it helps reduce muscle tension, inflammation, and accelerate recovery post-exercise. A 2018 study observed the effects of contrast therapy using infrared spectroscopy and other tools. Researchers found that it promoted healing by increasing oxygen delivery to bodily tissues, while also decreasing tissue swelling. 

Helps Enhance Circulation

The heat component of contrast therapy works to increase blood flow. As mentioned earlier, blood vessels expand in the heat, allowing more blood to enter your muscles and supply them with minerals and oxygen. Oxygen serves as fuel for the muscle repair process, while the nutrients encourage robust, healthy muscle tissue. Your muscles are not the only things receiving more nutrients and oxygen during contrast therapy. It also aids the transfer of immune cells and other restorative components to wounded tissues. Enhanced circulation also works to regulate body temperature. 

Improved Range Of Motion

Contrast therapy works to enhance range of motion in two ways. The cold plunge works to reduce inflammation and enhance joint mobility, while the sauna helps relax muscles and increases suppleness. Doing so can help you have more flexibility and mobility, making your body more able to do workouts with better form. That ultimately lowers your risk of injury and can help enhance overall performance. 

Mental Rejuvenation

The benefits of contrast therapy extend beyond the physical. The unique combination of alternating between cold and hot temperatures can have positive effects on your mental health. Going back and forth between the two extremes helps recharge your mind and emotions. Ultimately, you will think more clearly and benefit from stress reduction, giving you an overall happier disposition. 

Injury Prevention

Pushing yourself during a workout is great, but it can also increase your risk of injury. Contrast therapy positively impacts the body’s connective tissues, the strong network that supports muscles and joints. By strengthening the body’s support system, you can enhance your recovery regimen. Strains, sprains, and other injuries are less likely to occur in people who have stronger, more flexible connective tissues. The reason for that is because they can withstand the demands of training harder.

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Working out is many things: exhilarating, fun, challenging, and it provides a long list of health benefits. What is not so enjoyable is the post-workout soreness that you experience after an intense workout session. Perhaps you joined a Pilates studio or you recently started hiking more seriously. If so, then you are familiar with the pain that can permeate your limbs the next day, but as unpleasant as the pain may be, sore muscles are quite normal after working out. 

The official term for this post-workout muscle pain is “delayed onset muscle soreness.” You can typically start to experience this pain a few hours after you finish your workout. That is especially true if you don’t exercise regularly, or if you haven’t done so in a long time. Trying a new workout routine, circuit, or even a new move can cause post-exercise muscle soreness. 

How To Alleviate This Pain

One of the easiest ways to help ease the pain is by using a foam roller, which is a cylindrical device made of foam. Depending on the type of foam roller, it can be softer or harder. Some of them vibrate to add a percussive massage element, while others are extra firm and textured, which enhances the intensity. These rollers help loosen tight muscles, getting rid of knots and reducing muscle soreness in the process. 

You can roll any area of the body that experiences pain or discomfort. The different lengths, shapes, and densities make the recovery fully customizable to your needs. Good foam rollers can be expensive because cheaper materials will dent or lose firmness over time. Invest in a quality foam roller to experience the following benefits. 

Localized Pain Relief

By using foam rollers or massage guns, you can target specific portions of a tight muscle. Doing so can provide near instantaneous relief, even if the area is extremely sore or tender. If you have experienced localized pain relief in an area due to stretching, you can expect a bigger benefit from foam rolling instead. The foam roller not only works to stretch the muscle, but also targets the sore area of the muscle belly. As long as you apply the proper amount of pressure and avoid a direct pressure point on bony structures, you can experience relief. 

Improved Passive Range Of Motion

Foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release that can help improve flexibility and muscle recovery. Since foam rolling loosens the muscle fibers, you can expect a direct improvement in flexibility following your session. By foam rolling, you can improve localized range of motion by 10-15% temporarily. That is more important for people who regularly engage in activities that require a large range of motion. That said, it is equally beneficial for people who need help maintaining day-to-day activities. 

Improved Mobility 

There is a difference between flexibility and mobility. Although the two are related, they are not the same. Improving passive range of motion through flexibility training has a direct affect on your ability to move through larger ranges of motion (mobility). Foam rolling directly improves mobility as a result of improving passive range of motion. 

Increased Blood Flow

One study reported a 75% increase in total blood flow to an area directly after foam rolling. Not only does improved blood flow enhance recovery of the affected tissues, but it also helps prepare the body for movement or activity. This can help reduce delayed onset muscle soreness when applied post workout or after a strenuous activity. 

Accelerated Recovery From Strenuous Activity

By improving blood flow to the area and reducing inflammation, foam rolling can help muscles recover more quickly after engaging in strenuous activity. Foam rolling is also relaxing, and the enjoyability of a recovery tool is extremely crucial, as it makes you want to do it more often. Various studies confirm that foam rolling after strenuous activity increases anti-inflammatory proteins and reduces pro-inflammatory proteins. That results in less inflammation and aids recovery.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition that causes inflammation, swelling, and irritation in the joints. It can also cause problems in other body parts, including the eyes, skin, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. RA occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues. 

RA differs from osteoarthritis, a more common condition that causes damage to joints from overuse. People living with RA can experience difficulty with everyday chores, such as opening a refrigerator or cleaning a counter. Sometimes, pain can strike when you least expect it, even with assisted devices that are designed to eliminate pain. 

In order to offer some relief for people with RA, we’ve compiled a list of hacks that are designed to provide relief for RA hand pain. If these hacks do not help your situation, though, you may need to see a specialist or therapist for rehabilitation. 

Try An Apron As A Tool Belt

Doing minor work around the house? Spending a couple hours cleaning? Try using an apron as a tool belt. It can hold a hammer and nails or a spray bottle and paper towels. Place these items in the apron so that you don’t have to fatigue your fingers and wrists. The items will be at the ready in the pockets of the apron. This helps keep your hands pain-free until you are ready to complete the tasks at hand. 

Try Cuticle Scissors For Opening Packages

There are a lot of tiny packets, such as mustard, ketchup, soy sauce, and other condiments, that can be very difficult (and painful) to open. Some people with RA keep a dedicated pair of cuticle scissors on their person for this reason! If you get scissors, make sure to get a pair with a larger, padded grip. 

Use A Potholder While Ironing Clothes

Although an iron isn’t the heaviest of objects, it can be taxing on the wrists with repeated use. It is better to slide the iron as much as possible to avoid lifting it up and putting it back down. What do you do when you have to adjust the item you are ironing? Keep a potholder on the ironing board and slide the iron right onto it until you are ready to slide it back onto the garment. Additionally, consider doing a task like ironing during a time of day when your hands are less likely to hurt.

Use A Kitchen Sponge For Stability

Whipping up a batch of banana bread or pancake batter? It can be very difficult to grip the mixing bowl with one hand while stirring the ingredients with the other. Try placing a damp sponge under the bowl to keep it in place without using your hand to support it. A damp cloth is equally as effective if you do not have a spare sponge. If you have a little extra spending money, consider investing in a stand mixer, which does most of the work for you. 

Stick A Tennis Ball On Your Toothbrush

If you do not have a specially made grip for your toothbrush, no need to fret. You can slice open a tennis ball and insert the handle end inside. That will give you a larger surface area to grip the toothbrush while brushing your teeth. You can also try to wrap the handle in rubber bands to make it easier to grip. The Arthritis Foundation commonly recommends people with RA to buy toothbrushes that come with larger handles. 

Use Headbands To Pull Things Closed

Pulling things with your forearms, instead of your fingers, is much easier on your joints. Wrap headbands with Velcro closures around the refrigerator and oven doors to close them easily. Loop your arm into the headband and pull the door closed when ready. This exact concept applies to any item that you have to grip to close, such as kitchen drawers, a purse zipper, or cabinets below the sink. If there is a handle, you can attach a strap to make it easier to close.

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It is very common to wake up with a bit of stiffness. That’s why you probably engage in a quick under-the-cover stretch with a morning grunt to greet the day. Although that is a great place to start, it is not a dedicated stretch routine that can help loosen you up. The stretch routine in this article contains a handful of easy stretches that can reduce stiffness and energize the body. 

After you wake up, if you are like most people, you either hit snooze or reach for your phone to scroll through social media and emails. It can still take some time to get out of bed after this habit. Taking just five minutes each morning to stretch can not only loosen up your joints and improve mobility, but also improve the way you feel. Various health experts agree that regular stretching, especially in the morning, can facilitate strength, improve range of motion, and enhance your overall sense of self. 

Make it a point to engage in the following stretches every morning and your body will thank you. Are these stretches the fountain of youth? Not by a long shot, but they can help energize the body and get you ready for the day!

Simple Shoulder Stretch

If you sleep wrong or spend too much time looking down at your phone, this is a great stretch to open up the muscles that can cause neck pain. Begin by standing up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Draw your shoulders forward, as if to have them touch in front of you. Press your chest forward as you draw your shoulder blades together in the back. Alternate between these two positions five times, breathing deeply throughout. 

Shoulder Circles

The trapezius muscles are the largest muscles that run from the neck, across the shoulders, and down to the mid back. When you open up these muscles, you can breathe easier and feel relief from tension. Stand up straight with your arms by your sides. Draw your shoulders up and roll them forward in a large circular motion. Complete 10 forward rotations, followed by 10 backward rotations. 

Standing Wall Push

This is a dynamic stretch that targets the triceps, pectorals, deltoids, and muscles that run across the shoulder blades. It can also help you improve upper body strength and mobility in the shoulders. Stand up straight facing a wall with your feet hip-distance apart. Extend your arms out in front of you and place your hands flat on the wall. Bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle to lean toward the wall. Hover a few inches away from the wall for a few seconds before engaging your pectorals and shoulders to push away from the wall a few inches. Hold this position before lowering back to the starting position. Continue alternating between these two positions for about 30 seconds. 

Shoulder Across The Arm Stretch

The shoulder joints are the most mobile in the body, so maintaining flexibility is essential for optimal movement. This stretch can help reverse the effects of slouching or hunching at your desk. Stand up straight with your feet hip-distance apart. Pull your left arm across your chest, hooking your right arm around your left to pull it closer to your chest. Keep your left arm slightly bent and pull with your right arm until you feel a good stretch on the outside of your shoulder. Hold for 15-30 seconds, release, and then repeat with the other arm. 

Standing Side Bend

If you sit a lot or hit the gym to do a core workout, you will love this stretch. It works to improve balance, coordination, and elongate the obliques and hips. Stand up straight with your feet hip-distance apart and arms resting by your sides. You can widen your stance if you have trouble balancing. Raise your arms overhead and interlace your fingers. Hinge at the waist to lean left until you reel a deep stretch along your right side. Hold this position for 15-30 seconds before returning to the center. Repeat on the other side.

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Today, we’re tackling lower body! This time we will use our own body’s weight to build up strength. We’ll have Maria following along with you on this workout. You got this!

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Today, we’re tackling lower body! Lower body workouts can build strength, burn calories, and reduce risk of injuries. We’ll have Maria following along with you on this workout. You got this!

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Whether you work from home or work in an office, you understand that sitting down all day can cause pain, especially in the upper back, shoulders, and neck. Not to mention, a sedentary work schedule can cause serious tension in the hip flexors, which leads to lower back pain. At least once during your workday, you feel stiff or achy. Fortunately, there are several desk stretches that can help counteract the harmful effects of sitting all day.

The body does not do well if you remain in a stationary position for an extended period of time. Sitting for too long means that certain areas of the body receive less blood flow. Muscles and joints lose extensibility, which often leads to fatigue, soreness, cramping, and general discomfort. That said, you may not be able to abandon your desk job and avoid sitting altogether. You can, however, alternate between sitting and standing, especially if you have a standing desk. 

How often you stretch while working depends on your body, how you are feeling, and whether or not you are active. If you have the ability to get up and move or walk on your lunch break, you’ll feel a lot better because of the increased circulation. Hopefully the following stretches help relieve any tension you get from sitting at your desk. 

Standing Calf Stretch

Stand upright behind the back of your chair with your feet hip-distance apart and place your hands on the back of the chair for support. Step your right leg behind you and bend your left leg slightly. Make sure that your right heel is touching the ground and your back leg is straight. Lean forward so that you feel the stretch along your right calf. Hold for 15-20 seconds and then repeat on the other leg. 

Chair Hamstring Stretch

Remain standing behind your chair just like you did in the previous calf stretch. Place your hands on the chair and walk your feet back, hinging at the hips to lean forward until your torso is parallel to the ground. Lengthen your back and keep your legs straight, so that you feel a stretch along your hamstrings and upper back. Remain in this stretch for 30 seconds. 

Office Chair Hip Flexor Stretch

This stretch is a bit more advanced, but the relief in your hips is absolutely wonderful. Stand in a split stance, your right foot in front of your left, in front of your chair facing away from it. Place the top of your left foot on the chair and bend your knees to lower down into a lunge. If possible, bring your left knee to the floor and keep your hips squared. Straighten your back and tuck your tailbone, feeling the stretch along the front of your left hip. Remain here for 20-30 seconds before switching legs. 

Seated Back Stretch

Remain in your chair and scoot your butt all the way back in your chair. Widen your feet and point your knees outward slightly. Fold forward and allow your lower back to round and relax. You can touch your hands to the floor, or grab hold of your elbows and hang. Remain here for 30 seconds and then slowly roll back up to the starting position. 

Seated Shoulder Stretch

Sit up straight on the edge of your chair and bring your left arm across your chest. Hook your right hand or forearm just above your left elbow and hug your left arm into your chest without rounding your upper back. Hold the stretch for about 20 seconds and then switch arms to repeat.

Seated Upper Trap Stretch

Sit up straight on the edge of your chair and reach your left hand over your head to place it on the right side of your head. Keep your right arm by your side holding the chair for support and gently pull your head to the left. Think about lengthening your neck, as opposed to just pulling your head to the side and down to your shoulder. Hold for 20 seconds, rest, and repeat one more time before doing the same on the other side.

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There are two types of people in this world: people with tight hips and liars. Most people have hip pain and don’t even know it, or worse, they don’t admit it. Due to the sedentary lifestyles that many people lead, hip pain is very common. All that sitting at your desk doesn’t do your hips or lower back any favors. 

Sitting isn’t the only reason for your tight hips. One cause is lack of internal and external range of motion, which prevents the hip joint from moving properly. Another cause is lack of strength in the quadriceps, hamstrings, or both. If you want better hip mobility and improved range of motion, you have to engage in various planes of movement. The following exercises are low-impact and aim to take your hips through a variety of movements. Doing so can help improve hip mobility, while simultaneously strengthening and lengthening the surrounding muscles. 

Lying Hamstring Stretch

Sit on the edge of a couch with your legs bent and feet planted flat on the floor. Make sure you have enough room to lean back before you lean your torso back to have your back flat on the couch. While leaning back, bring your right knee up toward your chest, but keep your left foot on the floor. Extend your right foot toward the sky and reach behind your thigh to pull your leg toward you. Hold for two to three seconds, bend your knee, and then straighten it again for two to three seconds. Continue to do this 10 times before you switch sides. 

Three-Way Hip Stretch

Begin on your mat or carpet in a half-kneeling position by stepping your left foot forward and bending your left knee at a 90-degree angle. Your right knee should be on the ground and toes tucked behind you. Place a cushion under your right knee if necessary. Lean forward as much as you can so that your knee is directly over your toes. Lean back and repeat a total of 10 times. Next, move your left foot to the left so it makes a 45-degree angle to your body. Repeat the same leaning back and forth movement 10 times before stepping your left foot out to the side to make a 90-degree angle to your body. Repeat the same leaning back and forth movement 10 times and then switch to the right leg. 

90/90 Hip Switch

Sit down on the ground with your left knee bent in front of you at a 90-degree angle and the other knee bent behind you at a 90-degree angle. Your left foot should be touching your right thigh just above the knee. Lift both knees up at the same time and turn to face your right leg behind you. Keep the heels planted on the ground and fully drop your knees to now make your right leg the front leg. Continue alternating back and forth a total of 10-20 times. You can place your hands on the ground behind you for support. 

The Figure Four

Sit on the edge of a couch with your legs bent and feet planted flat on the floor. Make sure you have enough room to lean back onto the couch. Cross your left ankle over your right knee and then lift your right foot off the floor, drawing your knee to your chest. Reach behind your hamstring to pull it closer until you feel a stretch in the outer left hip and glute. Keep your lower back on the couch as you do this and hold the position for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other leg. 

Half-Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch

Begin in a half-kneeling position by stepping your left foot forward and bending your knee at a 90-degree angle. Keep your right knee bent and on the ground with your toes tucked behind you. Raise your right arm overhead, take a deep breath in, and bend your torso to the left. You should feel a stretch along the front of your hip and in your oblique. Hold for 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side. 

Frog Pose To Child’s Pose

To enter frog pose, begin in a tabletop position on your hands and knees, stacking your shoulders over your wrists and hips over your knees. Slowly move your knees out away from each other. When you feel that stretch in the inner thighs, stop in this potion to allow your muscles time to relax. Don’t move your knees outward if you feel pain. Turn your feet out to the sides so that the inner edges of your feet, ankles, and knees are touching the ground. Stretch your arms forward, keeping your palms on the ground. Learn forward to lift your feet off the ground and close together. Rest the tops of your feet on the ground to enter child’s pose. Alternate between these two poses slowly 10 times. 

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A February 2023 report found that a staggering 23% of people live with chronic lower back pain. On top of that, about 84% of adults have experienced general back pain at some point during their lives. Whether you have general soreness in the back or chronic lower back pain that impairs daily activities, yoga poses may benefit your situation.

The Benefits Of Yoga For Back Pain

Does yoga actually help prevent or relieve back pain? Back pain tends to stem from a weak core or tight hip muscles. A healthy back is dependent on a strong core, and good posture can take pressure off the spine. If back pain is the result of tight hip muscles, stretching those muscles and improving their flexibility may relieve pain. Not only does yoga work to strengthen your core, but it also releases tension, helps improve posture, and contributes to greater mobility. 

According to a 12-week study, doing yoga just once a week was just as effective at treating moderate to severe chronic lower back pain as physical therapy. If pain exists and it affects the entire body and mind, practicing yoga may help both ease the mind and ease the pain. In regards to which type of yoga works best for back pain relief, there are certain postures that contribute to better spinal alignment. Proper alignment and flexibility are two things that can help prevent or relieve pain. Before we explain how to do the poses that are beneficial for people with back pain, keep in mind that twist poses and deep backbends may only increase pain. Gentle poses go a long way towards helping your recovery. 

Happy Baby Pose

Working to decompress the lower back, happy baby pose realigns the spine and opens the hips, inner thighs, and groin. To begin, lie flat on your back and bend your knees, bringing them toward your belly. Reach to grab the outsides of your feet and gently pull your knees down toward your armpits. Make sure that your lower back remains on the ground and aim to have the soles of your feet facing the ceiling. You should feel a mild stretch in the hips, not pain. You can rock from side to side in this pose if you want. 

Bridge Pose

Bridge pose helps to strengthen the back and legs, and may help to relieve back pain and headaches. To do this pose, lie flat on your back with your arms resting by your sides. Bend your knees and plant your feet on the floor, just far enough away from your butt that you can touch your heels with your fingertips. Glue your shoulders to the floor and keep a neutral spine as you engage your glutes to press your hips up. Keep your thighs parallel to each other and hold the pose at the top. Lower back down to the ground in a controlled, gentle motion. Complete about 10-15 reps, or hold the position for 20 seconds, and then rest. 

Child’s Pose

This is a great resting pose in any yoga routine. It helps to stretch the spine, hips, and thighs, and works to relieve stress. Begin by kneeling down with your knees hip-distance apart. Tuck your feet and sit your hips back onto your heels. Inhale and elongate your spine as you fold over your knees to rest your forehead on the mat. Widen your knees out to the sides of your mat and stretch all the way through your fingertips. Remain here for as long as you like, but make sure to listen to your body and do what feels right. 

Cobra Pose

If you have pain in the shoulders, abdomen, chest, or upper back, cobra pose can help to gently stretch those areas. Lie flat on your stomach with your legs extended behind you. Bend your arms and plant your hands on the floor so that they are in line with your rib cage. Hug your elbows close to your chest and press the tops of your feet into the floor. Engage your chest and abdominal muscles and press your upper back off the floor. Press your lower abdominals and tops of your feet into the floor to support the lift. Keep your arms bent at about a 45-degree angle and drop your shoulders. Lift and lengthen through your upper back and neck, breathe deeply, and hold this pose for 15-30 seconds. 

Knee To Chest Pose

This pose works to improve flexibility in the back and spine, while simultaneously massaging the abdominal organs. Lie flat on your back with both legs extended out in front of you and arms relaxed by your sides. Bend your left knee and draw it into your chest, grabbing just below the knee to bring it closer to your chest. Keep your back flat on the floor and hold this position for about 20 seconds before switching legs. 

Reclined Pigeon Pose

Reclined pigeon pose helps to open the hips and release tension from the lower back. It may also increase flexibility in the hamstrings. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and heels flat on the ground about six inches from your glutes. Bend your right knee and place your right ankle on your left thigh just above the knee. If you already feel a deep stretch, remain in this position. To achieve a deeper stretch, draw your left knee in toward your chest, interlacing your fingers behind your left hamstring to pull towards you. Try to hold for up to a minute and then repeat on the other side.

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Doesn’t getting a massage once a week sound like the best plan ever? What a beautiful luxury to be able to afford! You don’t need the financial ability to get weekly massages when you can loosen up all your tight muscles with a series of beneficial stretches. Many physical therapists agree that regular stretching can make you feel as good as you do after a relaxing massage. 

When people stretch, they typically target the hamstrings, quadriceps, and areas of the back. Seldom do people actually perform stretches correctly, though. Without proper form, you will not target the right muscle groups. Moving your body in subtle ways can do more than you realize. The following stretches help you stretch the various nooks and crannies in the body that need the most attention. Stretch regularly with the right form and you won’t feel sore all the time. 

Side Neck Stretch

Stand up straight with your arms by your sides and feet hip-distance apart. Let your right ear fall to your right shoulder and take a deep breath. Bend your right arm and take your right index finger to push your chin back until you have a double chin. Lean into the stretch until it feels good, allowing the stretch to deepen for 30-60 seconds. Switch sides and repeat. 

Back Of The Neck Stretch

Remain in the same standing position as the previous stretch, or you can sit down if that is more comfortable. Let your head fall forward, bringing your chin to your chest. Interlace your fingers behind your neck and pull down gently while simultaneously lifting your head. Do these for 20 seconds and then let go. Your neck should feel longer after this stretch.

Back Of Shoulder Stretch

Stand up straight with your feet hip-distance apart and interlace your fingers at your lower back, facing your palms back. Pull your elbows toward the front of your body and round your spine. You can lean forward slightly until you feel a good stretch along the backs of your shoulders. Don’t force too much and remain in a comfortable stretch for 30 seconds before releasing.

Chest Stretch

Stand up straight with your feet hip-distance apart and lift your arms up and out to the sides. You should be in the form of a “T.” Face your palms facing forward and reach your arms behind you. Don’t reach so far that you strain anything; rather, reach until you feel your chest open and then remain in this position for 30-60 seconds, breathing deeply throughout. 

Wide-Legged Spinal Rotation

Start standing straight up and step your right foot out to create a wide stance. Hinge at the hips to bend forward and then place your hands on the ground. Place your right hand behind your head and, leading with your elbow, rotate your chest out to the right and toward the ceiling. Ideally, open up so that your elbow is pointing straight up. Rotate back to the starting position, aiming to touch your left arm with your right elbow. Complete 10 reps and then switch sides. 

Reclining Figure Four

Lie flat on your back and bend your knees to plant your feet flat on the ground. Place the outside of your right ankle just above your left knee, pressing your right knee out to the side. Grab behind your left hamstring and draw it closer to your chest. You should feel a stretch along your right glute and outside of your hip. Hold for 30-60 seconds, allowing the stretch to deepen naturally, and then repeat on the other side. 

Squat To Hamstring Stretch

Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your feet flat on the floor and squat down until your butt almost touches the ground. Make sure to keep your back straight in this position. Grab your feet and pause for three seconds before slowly straightening your legs as much as possible, feeling a stretch in your hamstrings. Aim to keep your back straight during this process. Hold for 10 seconds and then return back to the squat. Complete three reps.

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