Standing abdominal stretch

After sitting for an extended period of time, the muscles in your abdomen and chest can become shortened and your back rounded. To counterbalance these effects, this stretches your chest and abdomen in the exact opposite direction, and it feels great!
To do this stretch, follow these steps:

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
2. Place your hands on the lowest part of your back, right where your buttocks meets your lower back, with your fingers pointed downward (see Figure a).
3. Inhale and as you exhale, squeeze your buttocks (to prevent compression in your lower back), lean back, and slightly push your hips forward (see Figure b).
4. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds and then come back to upright position.
5. Perform this exercise twice.

A few do’s and don’ts for this stretch:

• Do squeeze your shoulder blades together as you lean back.
• Do lift your chin so your neck stays in line with the rest of your spine.
• Don’t bounce or force the stretch, which puts stress on your lower back.