How to Stretch Before Abdominal Exercise

Before you begin an abdominal exercise program, you should stretch the muscles you use while working out. In the following stretching program, you will perform a seal stretch and a cat stretch. A seal stretch will stretch out your abdominals, while the cat stretch will stretch your lower back, which is the abdominals' opposing muscle group.

Things You'll Need

• Exercise mat

Instructions

1. Place your hands and knees on the exercise mat so you are on all fours. Your knees should be approximately shoulder-width apart and your hands should be a little bit wider.

2. Drop your hips onto the exercise mat, arch your back and lift your chest and head upward toward the ceiling into a seal stretch. You should feel your abdominal muscles and your obliques stretch.

3. Hold the seal stretch for a few seconds until you feel all of the abdominal muscles expand with the stretch.

4. Release the stretch by raising your hips off the mat and rounding your back upwards just as a cat might do when it is stretching.

5. Drop your head in between your shoulders, still in line with your spine, to rest into the cat stretch. You will feel a stretch on both your upper and lower back.

6. Stay in the cat stretch for several seconds until you feel that your back is properly stretched.

7. Flatten your back and slide your arms out in front of you to release the cat stretch and finish the abdominal exercise stretching program.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult a physician before beginning any exercise program.