Side Stretches

Side Stretches

Laura Brooke: We're going to do some side stretches in the chair. So, these can be done while you're just taking a couple minute break, while you're on a work call, conference call. But, they're in the chair stretches.

So, we're going to get the benefits of standing side stretch while we're in the chair.

So, as always, we want to start with thinking about our posture in the chair. So, make sure your spine is long and tall against the back of the chair. Feet are firmly placed on the earth. Now bring your shoulders back toward the back of the chair. And just kind of check in and make sure they're floated down.

Now, take one arm and let it just fall open alongside you and grip your other arm — or I guess hold your other arm with the hand gripping the bottom of the chair for some extra stability. 

Now, we're going to raise that arm. And the important thing here is to keep your shoulder behind your ear. Very important, so you don't injure your shoulder. So, what I mean by that, is that rather than here — we have a tendency sometimes to stretch this way. That provides a big pull on the front of the shoulder. Bring it back so you can't see your shoulder as you reach. 

So, you want to not be able to see your shoulder when you're looking out of the corner of your eye. It's disappeared. If that's too much of a stretch, bring it in. Bring it closer. Don't even go over your head. Come right here.

Full stretch.

Partial stretch.

Feel the opening of the ribs. The space in between the ribs has just gotten bigger.

Shoulder behind the ear. Spine against the back of the chair. Then turn that palm and float that arm down wherever it was.

Seated spinal stretch.