1. Child’s Pose
To do Child’s Pose, follow these steps:
- With your hands and knees on the ground, sink back through your hips to rest them on your heels.
- Hinge at your hips as you fold forward, walking your hands out in front of you.
- Rest your belly on your thighs.
- Extend your arms in front of or alongside your body with your palms facing up.
- Focus on breathing deeply and relaxing any areas of tension or tightness.
- Hold this pose for up to 1 minute.
You can do this pose several times during your stretching routine. Feel free to do it in between each stretch.
2. Knee-to-chest stretch
To do a knee-to-chest stretch, follow these steps:
- Lie on your back with both knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
- Keep your left knee bent or extend it straight out along the floor.
- Draw your right knee into your chest, clasping your hands behind your thigh or at the top of your shinbone.
- Lengthen your spine all the way down to your tailbone and avoid lifting your hips.
- Breathe deeply, releasing any tension.
- Hold this pose for 1 to 3 minutes.
- Repeat with the other leg.
3. Piriformis stretch
To do a piriformis stretch, follow these steps:
- Lie on your back with both knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
- Place your right ankle at the base of your left thigh.
- Then, place your hands behind your left thigh and pull up towards your chest until you feel a stretch.
- Hold this position for 1 to 3 minutes.
- Then do the opposite side.
4. Seated spinal twist
To do a seated spinal twist, follow these steps:
- Sit on the edge of a cushion with both legs extended out in front.
- Bend your right knee and place your foot to the outside of your left thigh.
- Bend your left leg, placing your foot near your right thigh.
- Lift your arms up with your palms facing each other.
- Starting at the base of your spine, twist to the right side.
- Place your right hand behind you for support.
- Place your left arm around your right leg as though you’re hugging it, or bring your upper arm to the outside of your thigh.
- Hold this pose for up to 1 minute.
- Repeat on the other side.
5. Pelvic tilt
To do a pevlic tilt, follow these steps:
- Lie on your back with both knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Engage your abdominal muscles as you flatten your back against the floor.
- Breathe normally, holding this position for up to 10 seconds.
- Release and take a few deep breaths to relax.
- Do 1 to 3 sets of 3 to 5 repetitions.