Tag: flexibility

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: Wall or chair

Description: 

• Stand facing arm-length away from a wall or heavy chair. 
• Bend forward at the hips keeping a soft bend in the knees and your back straight until you feel a stretch in the back, hips, and upper legs.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: Doorway

Description: 

• Stand with elbows bent and hands at shoulder level on each side of doorway. 
• Slowly lean forward keeping your body straight until you feel a stretch in the chest.
• Press back to start position.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: Wall

Description: 

• Stand with back against the wall, palms facing forward and hands down at sides.
• Take a breath in and as you exhale slowly raise your arms up overhead, keeping your arms and hands touching the wall as you lift.
• Raise arms only to the point where you can maintain contact against the wall.
• Keep your shoulders relaxed and down away from your ears.
• Return to start position.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: Pillow

Description: 

• Begin in a hands and knees position on the floor with a pillow at an arms length in front of you.
• Widen your knees to allow your belly to comfortably lie between the legs as you press down towards the floor and reach your arms in front of you on top of the pillow.
• Hold for several seconds.

MODIFICATION:

Place 1-3 pillows behind your bottom and on top of the backs of your lower legs. As you sit back, rest your bottom on the pillows instead of your legs/heels.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: Low stool/chair

Description: 

• Sit with your hips near the edge of the chair and knees wide apart.
• Lean forward and drop your arms down towards the floor, allowing the belly to comfortably drop between the legs. 
• Relax in this position for several seconds.
• Use your hands to press your body back up into an upright position.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: Low stool/chair or table

Description: 

• Sit in a chair that is positioned with a table or stool in front of you.
• Place arms on top of the table-position distance so you can comfortable lean forward on the table.
• Bend forward from the hip joint, keeping the back straight, until the head rests on the table.
• Tighten the abdomen and press backward slightly from your lower back.
• Roll up through your spine as you come back to your starting position.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: Low stool/chair, pillow

Description: 

• Kneel on the floor with the elbows resting on a pillow laid on the seat of a chair for support.
• Exhale and contract the abdominals while slowly curving your back

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: None

Description: 

• Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart. 
• Pull the elbow of one arm across the chest toward the opposite shoulder until resistance is felt. 
• Repeat on opposite side.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: None

Description: 

• Stand with the back erect, arms relaxed, and chin level. 
• Slowly circle the shoulders forward, upward, backward, and downward.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Exercise Classification: Beginner

Equipment: None

Description

• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and arms hanging loosely at the sides. 
• Position your head so that your ear lobes are in line with shoulders and hips. 
• Raise the shoulders slightly into a shrug and then lower back down to start position.

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.