The Rules of Stretching
1. Stretch your neck
Incline your head forward, but do not roll your head from side to side-this is dangerous. Instead, stretch your neck to the left, right, forward and back, but always return to center first.Tilt your head with ear toward shoulder, incline your head backward and roll your head from left to right, then right to left in a 30 degree motion.Be sure that while your head is tilted back, you keep your jaw relaxed and even let your mouth fall open just a bit.
2. Stretch your shoulder
Put your arm on your chest.
Grab your forearm with the opposite arm.
Pull your arm until you feel your shoulder being stretched.
Push the arm you are stretching the opposite way in order to contract the muscle if you feel that your chest is stretching instead of your shoulder.
Grab your forearm with the opposite arm.
Pull your arm until you feel your shoulder being stretched.
Push the arm you are stretching the opposite way in order to contract the muscle if you feel that your chest is stretching instead of your shoulder.
3. Stretch your triceps
Reach up with your right arm.
Bend your right elbow and put your forearm down behind your head and between your shoulder blades.
Reach up and grab your right elbow with your opposite arm.
Pull your elbow toward your head.
Bend your right elbow and put your forearm down behind your head and between your shoulder blades.
Reach up and grab your right elbow with your opposite arm.
Pull your elbow toward your head.
4. Stretch your scapulae
Extend your arms in front of you.
Join both hands together and cross fingers.
Push your arms further and try to push your scapulae in opposite directions.
Join both hands together and cross fingers.
Push your arms further and try to push your scapulae in opposite directions.
5. Stretch your wrists
Hold your arm out.
Slightly pull back your hand down with your opposite hand.
Repeat with other hand.
Slightly pull back your hand down with your opposite hand.
Repeat with other hand.
6. Stretch your quadriceps
Stand up and pull one leg behind you.
Repeat with other leg.
Repeat with other leg.
7. Stretch your calves
Put your arms up against the wall.
Bring one leg in towards it while keeping your other leg straight.
Repeat with other leg.
Bring one leg in towards it while keeping your other leg straight.
Repeat with other leg.
8. Stretch your hamstrings
Sit on the floor and put one leg out.
Reach for it and hold for a few seconds.
Repeat with other leg, and then do it with both legs.
Reach for it and hold for a few seconds.
Repeat with other leg, and then do it with both legs.
9. Stretch your legs fully
Lay flat on your back and extend your leg out.
Grab the back of your thigh.
Pull your leg towards your face.
Don't jerk your leg, it may cause an injury.
Grab the back of your thigh.
Pull your leg towards your face.
Don't jerk your leg, it may cause an injury.
10. Do a butterfly stretch
Sit on the floor.
Press the soles of your feet together.
Pull your feet the closest you can.
Put your hands on your ankles to where your elbows are lined up with your knees.
Push against your elbows trying to close your legs. (This contracts your groin muscles to help you get a deeper stretch.)
Push your knees down.
Press the soles of your feet together.
Pull your feet the closest you can.
Put your hands on your ankles to where your elbows are lined up with your knees.
Push against your elbows trying to close your legs. (This contracts your groin muscles to help you get a deeper stretch.)
Push your knees down.
