10 Muscle Stretching Exercises - WITH PICTURES!!

                                
                     New Year Resolutions?

Year 2016 has started and the first month is nearly already over! Most of you most probably have started their diet didn't you? 

Here below find some simple examples of exercises with pictures and you can learn which muscles you are stretching. Also this can be used as a guide to those wanting to stretch a little further! :)

The pictures found in this post are made by Vicky Timon and James Kilgillon. Vicky Timon is the author of "Encyclopedia of Pilates Exercises" and a yoga expert whilst Mr.Kilgallon is the main creator of Mazio's Body Maintenance Program.

Exercises 1 and 2:

1. Camel Pose. Muscles Stretched: Rectus Abdominus, External Obliques

• Highly Recommended for people with high flexibility
• If you are experiencing problems with your neck, do not drop your head back!

2. Wide Forward Hold. Muscles Stretched: Adductors

• Great for stretching adductors and hamstrings
• Start with knees bend and holding spine straight

3. Frog Pose. Muscles Stretched: Adductors

• Mostly aimed for the groin area but can feel pressure on the knees as well
• Perform it on a soft surface
• Rest hands and knees and widen knees until you feel groin muscles stretching

4. Wide Side Lunge Pose. Muscles Stretched: Adductors

• Hold legs straight as possible

5. Butterfly Stretch. Muscles Stretched: Adductors

• If you want to stretch the groin muscles better - hold feet closer to your body and make sure that feet are far from hips 

6. Forearm Extensor Stretch. Muscles Stretched: Forearm Extensor

• You can also develop this stretch by touching the tips of your fingers together in the shape of a tea cup!

7. Lateral Side Flexion of the Neck. Muscles Stretched: SCM - sternocleidomastoid

• Prolong neck as much as possible

8. Neck Rotation Stretch. Muscles Stretched: SCM

• If you want to perform a deeper stretch you need to put pressure with the opposite hand from the direction you are rotating

9. Neck Extension Stretch. Muscles Stretched: SCM

• Put your hands on hips and spine straight
• Tilt your head back

10. Lateral Slide Flexion of the Neck with Hand Assistance. Muscles Stretched: SCM

• Prolong neck as possible
• In this way you can create consistent tension down the arm and neck.

Hope you will find this beneficial to you! :)

C.Armeni.