How to Stretch After an Airplane Ride

Everyone could use a good stretch after a cramped-up airplane ride.

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After being cramped in too-small seats at 35,000 feet, everyone can use a good stretch. It’s easy to stretch after an airplane ride, and pretty much imperative, unless you want to spend the next couple of days hunched over and cranky. A few simple steps will have you limber and ready to go.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Cramped muscles
Elbow room to move around
Ability not to care when people stare
A few minutes (like while you’re waiting for your luggage or your ride)

Step1

Start with the broad back muscles. Stretch your arms out as far as they go, as if you are about to give someone a giant hug. Bring your arms back in front of you, keeping them straight and chest level. Repeat three times, inhaling for the hug and exhaling for the golf swing.

Step2

Bend over to touch your toes. Ouch! This one usually hurts after a plane ride, but do it three times, inhaling upon standing up, exhaling as you bow over to touch your toes.

Step3

Give your thighs a workout by grabbing one foot behind you, bending your knee and bringing your foot to your butt. Ahhh. Repeat three times with each leg.

Step4

Do a whole-body energizer by standing with your legs shoulder-width apart and tensing, then relaxing each muscle for three seconds. Work from your toes up to your forehead.

Step5

Give your sides some relief by placing one arm above your head with the shoulder near your ear, and bend in the opposite direction. Repeat three times on each side, inhaling with the bend and exhaling when going back to standing erect.

Step6

Once you get home or to your hotel room, lie on your back, and do some back twists and, if you have the time, incorporate some restorative yoga poses. Easy ones include the legs-up-the-wall pose and goddess pose.

Tips & Warnings

Restorative yoga poses can be found in a number of places online or in many yoga books.
The sooner you stretch after a plane ride, the better you’ll feel. Don’t wait until you can barely walk.
Don’t be afraid to look like a jerk as you stretch after getting off the plane. My bet says people will follow suit and start stretching themselves rather than laugh at you (especially if you make contented sighing noises).