Morning Stretches with Sharon

Stretching is a great way to warm up your body and muscles, not to mention it helps prevent injuries. Here are some of Sharon’s top morning stretches that you might see in her stretch classes. This is a great way to start the morning and get your body ready for the day. Some of these stretched you can do on the floor by your bed, or while you’re still on the bed! When you are doing these remember to breathe deep and hold each position for at least 30 seconds.

 

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9583.JPG 1. Arms.

Press your arms across your midline, but keep the shoulder out of your face. What you’re stretching: rear deltoid, Tricep and shoulder blade.

 

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9584.JPG 2. Torso.

Reach over your head, grab wrist and tilt and pull to the side laterally. What you’re stretching: Lats, Obliques, Lower Back, Romroids and Triceps.

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9587.JPG3. Upper body

While sitting comfortably (perhaps cross-legged) place arms behind you to prop you up, lilft the chin, retract shoulder blades together. What you are stretching: Pecs, Back, Antoid, Deltoid.

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9595.JPG4. Cat Stretch

Round the back, tuck in chin.

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9596.JPG4. Cat Stretch move II

Drop the belly, lift the chin, and tilt the hips.

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9591.JPG5. Quad and Hip Flexer

While on your belly, pull your heel torward your glute pushing the hip down. What you are stretching: Quads and Hip Flexers

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9594.JPG6. Cobra

While you are still on your belly, extend the legs out, press up using your arms, and raise the chin. You can modify this by resting on your elbows but still lifting the chin. What you are stretching: Front torso and back.

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9604.JPG7. Crunch/Spine Stretch

While on your back, hug the knees tightly to the chest, lifting head and tucking in the chin. What you are stretching: Back and Spine

 

 b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9603.JPG8. IT Band

While laying on your back, cross one leg over the midline while keeping the other leg straight while keeping both hips on the ground as much as possible. Switch sides. What you are stretching: IT Band, Outher Thigh, Glutes and Lower Back.

 

b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9597.JPG9. Inner Legs

While on your back, lift leg out. You can use a Yoga Strap for this move to get a better stretch if need be. Place resting leg in a compfortable position, but to open the hips, try letting it fall to the side a little as well. What you are stretching: Inner Thigh, Hamstrings, Lower Back, and opening the hips.

 b2ap3_thumbnail_IMG_9589.JPG10. Hollywoods

While sitting up, extend legs, place one leg over the other and bend the knee. Hug the leg and twist torso in opposite direction and sit tall. What you are stretching: Mid and Lower Back, Glutes and Hamstrings.