Ease Aches And Pains With Deep Stretching From Head To Toe
Many of us simply are not that physically active. Unexplained aches and pains may have a lot to do with your lifestyle.

Americans typically over medicate themselves with pain killers to alleviate chronic pain problems. Non-invasive, drug free treatments such as superficial heat, massage, acupuncture or, in some cases, spinal manipulation (chiropractic or osteopathic) have proved highly effective in relieving aches and pains.
Gentle stretching along with proper posture improves blood flow to muscles and tendons which tighten from inactivity. Stretching and strengthening muscles around our joints increases blood flow and circulation, sending oxygen to your brain. This helps alleviate stress and limit inflammation.
Wake up your muscles with some simple stretching exercises to help reduce future injury and pain:
TORSO TWIST – helps strengthen the muscles on your sides that help you rotate your spine while keeping your lower back in alignment.

PELVIC TILT – strengthens abdominal muscles that support the spine.

BIRD DOG WITH CRUNCH – engages your spine-supporting muscles while moving and balancing.

DEAD BUG – prevents disk compression and lower-back pain by strengthening hip flexors and spine-supporting.

SUPERMAN – improves spinal alignment for ideal posture by shoring up muscles surrounding spine.

HALF DOWNWARD-FACING DOG – opens chest and keeps shoulders back to eliminate the hunched-over posture that causes neck and lower-back pain.

SHOULDER OPENER WITH STRAP – stretches chest and shoulders.

SCAPULAR PUSH-UP – strengthens muscles connecting the sides of your ribs to your shoulder blades to prevent rounding of your back.

NECK RELEASE – Massages neck and creates space between the disks, relieving pressure.

UPPER-BACK RELEASE- helps release tension in muscles and fascia (the connective tissue just beneath your skin).

RECLINED IT BAND STRETCH – help stretch the iliotibial (IT) band, which runs from the buttocks to the outer knee, to relieve pain in both areas.

ARCH RELEASE – massages bottom of foot to stretch plantar fascia, the main ligament that runs along the arch of the foot. This help relieve heel pain.

KNEELING HIP FLEXOR STRETCH – helps Relieve tight hip flexors, which are often stiff from sitting.

CLAMSHELL – strengthens gluteus medius, the muscle on the outer edge of your buttocks responsible for stabilizing your pelvis. Weak glutes can lead to painful pressure on the knees.

CAT-COW – helps to gently warm the entire spine and restores circulation to tight back muscles. This move will rehydrate spinal discs.
