Stretching and Mobility Exercises
QUADRUPED HIP CIRCLES (C.A.R.S.)
Enhance hip mobility with Quadruped Hip Controlled Articular Rotations, a dynamic exercise promoting flexibility and strength. Targeting the hips, this movement aids in improving joint range and mobility. Incorporate Quadruped Hip Controlled Articular Rotations into your routine to enhance flexibility and strengthen hip joints.
ROCKBACK BREATHING
Rockback Breathing serves as an excellent exercise to elongate your upper back, enhance overhead shoulder range of motion, and potentially alleviate neck pain.
RUNNER’S LUNGE STRETCH
The Runner's Lunge Stretch aims to release tension in the hips, legs, and trunk, providing a soothing effect post-run or after any workout. This stretch targets the hip flexors, quads, glutes, and back muscles.
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.
SQUAT STRETCH
Just squatting down and maintaining the stretch aids in loosening the inner thighs, releasing tension in the back, and enhancing ankle mobility. This stretch targets the inner thighs, glutes, calves, and back. It's versatile and can serve as a warm-up, cooldown, or a standalone mobility exercise.
STATIC BEAST TO LOADED BEAST
This variation derived from Animal Flow's "Beast Load & Unload" exercise effectively tests the strength of the arms, back, shoulders, and hips while enhancing ribcage mobility.
STATIC CRAB TO CRAB HOLD
Both the Static Crab and the Crab Hold offer numerous benefits, jointly strengthening the upper back, core, arms, and hips.
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.
TOE TOUCH TO SQUAT FOR FULL BODY MOBILITY
Prepare your lower body with the Toe Touch to Squat exercise, an ideal warm-up to boost mobility and flexibility. This dynamic movement targets hamstrings, hips, and lower back, enhancing overall mobility. Incorporate the Toe Touch to Squat into your regimen to improve flexibility and activate key muscle groups.
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 ANGELS
The Wall Angel is frequently recommended in rehabilitation to encourage thoracic and shoulder mobility, potentially alleviating certain neck and shoulder discomfort.
WALL CHEST STRETCH
This stretch effectively opens up the chest, stretches the pectoral muscles, and helps alleviate tightness from activities that involve forward-reaching movements, like typing or lifting. Remember to perform stretches within your comfort level and avoid overexertion or sudden movements that could cause strain.
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.