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Stretchings for Flexibility

Want a trimmer and leggier look? A more flexible body? Then stretching is something you must try. Stretching helps you develop and maintain a healthy flexibility. It helps you loosen your muscles. A regular stretching program can help you to maintain your range of motion and also make your daily living activities easier. Stretching doesn’t demand huge time or commitment but gives you huge results. Tulip meets up with Pallavi Domadiya of Workouts Gym, who shows us some great stretches to keep you fit and active and help you get the toned look.

Glut stretch
This stretch is done for the gluteus area. You are required to hold on to a stationary object. While balancing on your left leg, keep your right leg in a cross legged position. Hold it for 5 counts and repeat it thrice for each leg. This helps strengthen your glut area and butt muscle.
Back strengthening-
Lie on your stomach, hands alongside your torso and palms up. Exhale and bend your knees, bringing your heels as close as you can to your buttocks. Reach back with your hands and take hold of your ankles. Hold for 5 counts and repeat thrice. This helps in strengthening your lower back and tail bone. Later on with practice also releases lower back pain.

Thigh stretch
Standing on one leg, grasp the foot of the other leg. Keep your knees pointing down. Pull up with light pressure. Hold for 8-10 counts and then switch your foot. This helps to strengthen the thighs and is a must for a lower body workout.
Calf Stretch
Stand facing a wall, Keep back, knees straight, with the heel pressed to the floor. Push your hips forward, while pressing your back heel to the ground. Hold the stretch for 8 to 10 counts. Repeat with both legs. This works great on the calf muscles and helps strengthen them.
Chest Stretch
Stand up straight, with knees slightly bent. Place feet hip distance apart. Keep shoulders even as you complete this stretch. Place arms behind your back. Clasp your hands together, extending your arms behind your back and hold this position. Feel the stretch in your chest. Hold this for 8- 10 counts. This stretch helps in strengthening your pectoral muscle.

Toe touching
Stand up straight. Bend at the hips and let your body relax down. Try and touch the ground. Try and keep your legs straight. Hold for 10 counts and repeat three times. This may seem like a kith type exercise but works marvelously on our body.
Inner thigh stretch
Lie on your back; bend your knees sideways as shown in the picture. And touch the soles of your feet together. Try and lower the knees to the ground. Hold for 10 counts and repeat three times. This works great on the inner thigh which is often ignored and helps to strengthen the lower thigh muscle.

Hamstring Stretch-
Lie on your back, bend your knee, and keep your feet close to your buttock, raise one leg to a ninety degree angle and bend it further ahead and try and touch your toe. Hold for 5 counts and repeat twice with each leg. This helps in strengthening your quadriceps, hamstring, and gluteus and calves it a complete lower body work out.
Lower back, calf and Quadriceps stretch
Sit on the ground and split your legs as far as they can go. Try and touch your right toe, with your right hand while simultaneously touching your head to your knee. Hold this for 10 counts and repeat it thrice for each leg. This helps in toning the calves, quadriceps and gluteus.

Leg stretch
Put your leg onto a ledge which you think is of the right height. Keep your legs straight. Bend forward at the hip. Touch your head to the knee. Hold for 10 counts and repeat thrice for each leg. This is a powerful stretch which helps strengthen your legs, and back and helps in toning your stomach.
Pelvic bridge-
Lie on the floor, arms at your sides, knees bent, and heels on the floor. Lift your hips until your knees, hips, and shoulders form a straight line. Hold for two seconds, then return to start. Hold it for 5 counts and repeat three times. This helps to strengthen you pelvic muscle and lower back.