Rising and Shining

When it comes to feeling your greatest throughout the day, there are few things that will set you off on the right foot like a good morning stretch routine. Rise and shine often means out of bed and out the door, but if you can find a few minutes upon waking, whether it be pre-shower or post-coffee, your afternoon body and brain will reward you handsomely. Try a few of these simple stretches the next morning you think about it and see how they change your day for the better. Remember that vigorous stretching should be done with a warmed up body, so if you choose to do it straight out of bed, go a little easier. 

• Seated spinal twist: sit on a chair with legs together. Rotate from the waist one direction, feeling your spine lengthening. Use one hand on the back of the chair and one hand on the opposite hip to support the stretch. Once you reach a point of resistance, also turn your head to look over your shoulder. Hold for 3 seconds, exhale and repeat on the other side. 
• Standing hamstring stretch: stand facing a bench or the bed and put the right leg up onto the bench, keeping it straight with the foot flexed. Keep the standing leg straight and lean forward from the hips, keeping the spine straight. Hold for 5 seconds, repeat with other leg. 
• Standing forward bend: Stand with feet at hip width, knees slightly bent, and hinge forward from the hips. In this position, your upper body should hang over the legs. From here, clasp elbows and hold for 3 seconds, then reverse the motion slowly. 

All of these stretches are great for the lower back, which is the part of the body that takes the greatest beating during a day at the office. Being proactive about the health of your back is smart- in fact, it’s the greatest investment you can make along with nutrition in order to stay productive and keep a smile on your face. For help on freeing your back from the grips of pain and returning to the greatest life you are capable of leading, give our office in the Bay Area a call and schedule an appointment today. 

Dr. Gregory Lind, D.C.