Piriformis Stretch Exercise for Good Posture

Video Transcript

"Today we’re going to be talking about proper posture and some exercises that you can do to help strengthen your spine, and keep it working the way it should. Another very simple yet important stretch that you can do for the lower body is called the piriformis stretch. The piriformis is a muscle that runs from the side of your hip to the pelvis to side the sacrum. It’s a muscle that most people never really stretch. This requires us to be on our back. Begin by bringing one leg up bend at the knee. Take the other leg, and draw it across. We’re going to reach through and grab the leg that’s bent. Grab it behind the knee and draw it towards your chest. Now, immediately you feel a stretch right in this area here; that is the piriformis. Hold 5-10 seconds, and relax. Repeat on the opposite side. Cross the opposite leg over, draw it up towards your chest. Again, immediately feeling a stretch in the piriformis. This stretch once again, can be done while you’re in bed, before you get out of bed in the morning, and the last thing you do before you go to sleep at night. I recommend 3-5 repetitions per side, 2 times a day."