Hello! I’m trying to be a little more regular with your pilates workout videos so here is the latest one! I hope you’re enjoying them, and using them?! I’d love to hear from you if you are! So the latest one here is suitable for all levels of fitness, and we try to incorporate some stretching exercises along with strengthening at the same time.
After a whirlwind of an amazing trip to Singapore I need to try and keep the relaxed, calm vibes that I felt whilst being away! It’s so easy to just “forget” your holidays as soon as you return home and slip right back to the normal routine of daily life. Here I provide 5 poses to relax your body, give a good stretch and maintain strength. They were shot on location in Singapore just after a thunderstorm and the peace and calmness felt was fantastic!
5 poses to stretch and relax
A healthy spine is a healthy body, in my opinion! This post comes to you from Sheffield! I’m down South for a few days for a sports event and after travelling by train for a whole day, and then spending a full day in an ice rink, I’m definitely going to need these stretches!
A topic that everyone who works out discusses at some point! Stretching is a fundamental part of any exercise routine, any injury prevention programme and for anyone who wants to take care of their body.
Muscles are contractile tissues, which means they are designed to contract and tighten in order to allow your body to function, however, if they are not provided with stretching techniques to counteract this the tissues remain with a degree of tightness. Over time this can become greater and greater.
Another favourite area for tightening up and causing us problems! The hip joint is a large, complex joint but it is actually often a tight joint, surrounded by the gluteals and smaller rotator muscles that can shorten and restrict the hip even more.
These surrounding muscles are used so much for pelvic stability, which becomes essential for all sports, not least in running. They support the impact from the ground and if well developed, they can reduce the load through the smaller joints like the knee and ankle. However, because they are working so hard they tighten so easily!
Try these 5 hip opening stretches to loosen the hips:
Day-to-day everyone (or most of us!) comment at some point about a sore lower back, a back stiffness or a hip stiffness, or just being generally stiff! We need to regularly stretch our body and constantly change these positions. If you spend all day sitting, or even just in one similar position for too long your muscles will tighten and adopt to this position. Prolonged use of this will eventually give pain and stiffness. Plus- stretching generally makes us feel good!
Here are 6 stretches to try to relieve lower back and hip tightness and help promote a healthy back!
Freshly Centered 