Stop Stressing and Start Stretching

    

      If you start feeling overwhelmed or stressed whether it is because of work, school, family problems, etc. I think I found a solution for you. We should all know about the deep breathing, paint drawing and taking a walk techniques for relieving stress, but did you know that stretching your muscles can actually calm you down? I think it works great. Stretching improves your posture, gets your blood flowing, and relaxes your muscles. So, when you are feeling mentally strained try these stretching exercises to alleviate it. 

1. Stretch your neck. Tilt your head with your ear toward shoulder, incline your head backward and roll your head left and right. Be sure that while your head is tilted back you keep your jaw relaxed.
2. Stretch your shoulders. Put your arm on your chest, pull your forearm with your opposite arm and pull your arm until you feel your shoulder being stretched. Push the arm you are stretching the opposite in order to contract the muscle if you feel that your chest is being stretched instead of your shoulder.
3. Stretch your triceps. Reach up with your right arm, bend your right elbow and put your forearm down behind your head and between shoulder blades.
4. Stretch your scapulae. Extend your arms in front of you, join both hands together and cross fingers. Push your arms further and try to push your scapulae in opposite directions.
5. Stretch your quads. Stand up and pull one leg behind you and repeat with the other leg.
6. Stretch your calves. Put your arms against the wall, bring one leg in towards it while keeping your other leg straight and repeat with the other leg.
7. Stretch your hamstrings. Sit on the floor and put one leg out, reach for it and hold for a few seconds, and then repeat with the other leg then with both legs.
8. Do a butterfly stretch. Sit on the floor, press the soles of your feet together, pull your feet the closest you can and put your hands on your ankles where your elbows are lined up with  your knees. Push against your elbows trying to close your legs and push your knees down. This contracts your groin to get a deeper stretch. 
9. Stretch your lower back. Lay down, bring one leg into your chest, and repeat with the other leg and repeat with both.
10. Stretch your legs fully. Lay flat on your back and extend your leg out, grab the back of your thigh, pull your leg towards your face, and be careful not to jerk your leg. 

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