subject: Types of Standing Stretching Exercises [print this page] Stretching is very beneficial to help you loosen your muscles. Flexible muscles are very beneficial to help you perform exercise. In addition, they can help you prevent from being injured during exercise.
There are a lot of types of exercises you can do to perform stretching. The following are some of those exercises you can do either before or after exercising.
Neck Rolls
This is a simple stretching which you can do. It is very important to reduce the tension in your neck. The most effect you can do is that it is very relaxing to all of your body. To do it, you only need to stand straight. Let your hands hang loosely on your sides. Take a deep breath for relaxing your body. Then, lower your head down gently until your chin touches the top part of the chest. Rotate your head to the left till your left ear touches your left shoulder. Keep on rotating your head until it reaches its first position. Repeat it for 3 or 5 times. Then, stretch your neck without overstretching.
Hamstring Stretch
This type of stretch is very beneficial to help your lower body become flexible. Instead of hamstring, it is also able to stretch the muscles of the lower back. All you need to do is to lift one leg until the foot as high as a waist high bench. Keep on standing straight up and bend forward until you reach the foot. The lower, the better. You will feel your raised leg stretching. Hold it for 10 or 15 seconds. Then release it. Repeat it with the other leg.
Forward Bend, Standing
This type of stretching exercise is very beneficial for the lower back and the hamstring muscles. It is able to relieve the tight hamstring muscles and lengthen it. To do this, you need to stand straight with your feet together. Lower your head while grasping your ankles. The most important thing is that you have to keep your knees straight, don't bend them. Go down until your chest reaches your thighs. It will stretch your hamstring and lower back as well. Hold this position for about 10 or 15 seconds and then be back to your starting position. Repeat it for about 3 or 5 times.
