6 Stretches for a Lean, Limber Body
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Pages in this Story:
- Stretch for Greater Flexibility
- 1. Active Pigeon
- 2. C-Curve
- 3. Modified Cobra
- 4. Hamstring Stretch Series
- 5. Split Squat
- 6. Quadrupeds
- The Best Time to Stretch
- The Forgotten Area You Must Work
The Forgotten Area You Must Work
You've probably heard that Kegel exercises will strengthen your pelvic floor after pregnancy and ramp up your sex life anytime. But these moves (developed by Arnold Kegel, MD, in the late 1940s) are also crucial to building a firm foundation for any movement, says trainer Ashley Borden.
"It's vital to strengthen both the muscles of your pelvic floor and your deep abdominals," she notes. "These muscles work together to create a solid base on which everything else can build."
Build Up Your Pelvic Floor and Deep Abdominals
- To engage the area, think about stopping the flow of urine midstream.
- Keep the muscles contracted while pulling your navel in toward your spine.
- Hold this position during each stretch.
Print the Workout Booklet: 6 Stretches for a Lean, Limber Body >>
NEXT: Forgetting anything else? Check out these 42 easy one-minute better body tricks for some reminders >>
NEXT: Forgetting anything else? Check out these 42 easy one-minute better body tricks for some reminders >>
Originally published in Fitness magazine, March 2005.
