Torso twists

This stretch warms up your whole body, as well as stretches your abs, back, and shoulders. It also prepares your body for any twisting or reaching that many sports and activities require.
To do this stretch, follow these steps:

1. Stand tall with your feet apart, your abs and chest lifted, your shoulders back and down, and your hands clasped together at chest level (see Figure a).
2. Inhale and as you exhale, bend your knees and pivot on your left big toe, turning your hips and shoulders to the right (see Figure 2b). Keep your feet wide and your knees bent. This stance keeps your center of gravity low and makes keeping your upper body relaxed easier.
3. Repeat on the left side (see Figure c).
4. Repeat the stretch for 16 to 20 repetitions, keeping your arms and shoulders relaxed so that the momentum of hips moves your elbows behind you.

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

• Do keep your knees bent at all times.
• Do keep your abdominals lifted.
• Don’t force or jerk the movement, because the movement should flow from side to side.
• Don’t lock your knees or keep your hips facing the front.