How to Stretch Before Doing Anything

There are all kinds of stretches that are designed to isolate one area of the body and warm up a particular muscle group. But there is one stretch that will wake-up all of the muscles in your body before you do any exercise. It's a great posture to perform even before you get out of bed in the morning!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Lay on a flat surface, soft or hard, on your back with arms extended over your head and resting on the floor.
2. Slightly lift your arms off the floor and reach straight out with your hands. At the same time point your toes. Imagine you are trying to touch one wall with your fingertips and the other wall with your toes. Keep your head on the floor. Breathe in while you maintain this stretch for five seconds.
3. Keep a pelvic tilt at all times. (To achieve this, pull your back flat to the floor using your pelvic bone).
4. Relax arms and legs and exhale. Inhale and repeat this posture five times.

Tips & Warnings

• This stretch stimulates the joints and gets blood circulating throughout your body. You will feel all of your joints begin to warm up and some of the stiffness leave your body. A great, refreshing way to get started!