Stretching and Mobility Exercises
CORE 4 ON THE FLOOR
This versatile mobility routine serves as an excellent warm-up or cooldown for any workout, effectively targeting the hip flexors, glutes, lats, shoulders, and lower back. According to the Stretch To Win Institute©, performing this routine before exercise at a quicker pace as a dynamic stretch activates nerves, muscles, and fascia. Conversely, doing it slowly at night can aid in recovery and promote better sleep.
COUCH STRETCH
The Couch Stretch remains a commonly used method for stretching the quads and hip flexors, with additional potential benefits of reducing back pain and stiffness. Its name derives from its convenience—you can easily perform this stretch comfortably right from your couch.
CRAWLING CAT CAMEL
Boost your spine's flexibility and mobility with the Dynamic Cat Camel exercise, designed to enhance spinal movement and flexibility. This dynamic movement targets the entire spine, aiding in better mobility, less pain and reducing stiffness.. Incorporate the Dynamic Cat Camel into your routine to promote a supple spine, better posture and a healthier back.
DYNAMIC BLACKBURNS
Strengthen your shoulder rotator cuff with Dynamic Blackburns, an important exercise focusing on shoulder stability and mobility. This dynamic movement aids in fortifying the rotator cuff muscles, enhancing overall shoulder strength and resilience. Incorporate Dynamic Blackburns into your regimen to improve shoulder stability and prevent injuries.
FROG STRETCH
The Frog Stretch proves effective in loosening tight hips and stretching the inner thighs and adductor muscles. Maintaining steady, deep breathing during this stretch can enhance hip relaxation, allowing for a deeper stretch.
GOALIE GROIN STRETCH
The Goalie Groin Stretch offers a straightforward yet effective method to release tension in the adductors (inner thigh muscles), potentially enhancing hip mobility and alleviating low back pain.
MCKENZIE LOW BACK EXTENSIONS
McKenzie Low Back Extensions can provide low back relief by gently allowing for more range of motion and may alleviate radiating pain commonly felt in other areas of the body. This will also provide more postural awareness and may decrease sensitivity to pain.
PIRIFORMIS STRETCH
The Piriformis Stretch potentially aids in reducing sciatica symptoms and easing overall tightness in the glutes and hips. It effectively targets the glutes and deeper hip rotator muscles for relief.
SIDELYING CLOCK STRETCH
The Sidelying Clock Stretch stands as a widely-used dynamic stretch that effectively loosens the chest, shoulders, hips, and low back. This stretch also promotes enhanced trunk and thoracic mobility, potentially assisting in alleviating neck and hip discomfort.
SUPINE SCISSOR SLIDES
Supine Scissor Slides prove to be an excellent exercise that encourages natural hip movement, engaging the adductors, abs, hamstrings, and hip flexors. This enhances hip mobility and contributes to better posture.
THREAD THE NEEDLE
Thread The Needle stands as a traditional yoga pose beneficial for stretching the upper back, neck, and shoulders. It also aids in fostering much-needed thoracic mobility.
THORACIC ROTATIONS
Adequate thoracic rotation is vital for overall movement, with restricted ribcage rotation often linked to lower back pain. This stretch effectively opens up the chest, back, and shoulders, making it an ideal warm-up for rotational sports such as golf, hockey, and running.
TRUNK ROTATION STRETCH
This Trunk Rotation exercise helps to gently provide more mobility to the lower back and hips while lightly engaging the obliques, giving you improved trunk rotation.
WALL MARCHES
Wall Marches serve as an excellent method to fortify your core and individual leg strength utilizing only a wall. This exercise also aids in enhancing trunk stability and posture.
WALL SUPPORTED REACH
The Standing Wall Supported Reach, a technique from the Postural Restoration Institute®, aims to draw back the ribcage, enhance upper back flexibility, and foster improved alignment and breathing mechanics.
WALL SUPPORTED SINGLE ARM REACH
The Wall Supported Single Arm Reach, an exercise from the Postural Restoration Institute®, serves as a method to stretch the back, activate the obliques, enhance rotation, and potentially contribute to better posture.