Do you feel as if you are getting shorter and tighter as you sit at your computer? Sitting for long periods of time can cause our abdominal muscles to tighten, which can contribute to back discomfort. Feel a little taller and freer when you take a large movement break and STRETCH YOUR ABS.
HOW TO STRETCH YOUR ABS:
- Walk in place for about 10-15 seconds to warm up your body – remove
high-heel shoes, if necessary. - Stand about 2 feet from a wall with your feet shoulder width apart.
- Place your hands at chest level against the wall and lean into the wall
while keeping your arms almost straight. - Put your weight on your left foot (knee bent slightly) and slide your
right foot back approximately 12-18 inches. - Raise your right heel and lean into wall by bending your elbows – keep your
left foot flat on the floor. - Feel the stretch in your abdomen and hold for a few seconds.
- Make sure you continue breathing.
- Slowly return to standing and alternate sides, placing your weight on
your right foot and stretching your left side.
Do this or other large movement breaks every 20 to 30 minutes.
We thank Carlos of the Holistic Health Network for his help with this tip.
Copyright 2003 Erik Peper, Ph.D. and Katherine Hughes Gibney