Healthy Stretching - at home stretches for your whole body

Here is your Mobility Warm Up.

The movements in this section are designed to mobilize your joints, and warm up the muscles by bringing more blood flow to them. It is important to mobilize your joints, and warm up the muscles gently before trying to stretch them too deeply. Imagine if you were to stretch a rubber band after it was left in the freezer... snap!

So you'll want to do this Mobility Warm Up each time before the other videos to help get the most efficient stretch session as well as to prevent injury. Or you could also do the stretches after a workout or some sort of activity or sport.

Remember to listen to your body, each day you perform these movements you might feel slightly different, so adjust your range of motion or intensity level as needed.

Whenever needed, feel free to sit up to watch the exercise first until you become more familiar with the position and eventually you can just follow along listening to the verbal cues.

Enjoy!

I have designed this class to give you some options of how to stretch when you don't have a nice clean floor space with a mat. Maybe you've just finished your run outside, or after your soccer game on a muddy field, or this could even be a nice warm up before your golf game, maybe you're travelling and are waiting around in an airport.

Whatever the reason, its not a good excuse to get out of doing your stretches!

No equipment needed, just keep moving!

Here is a shorter stretch class option for you, for when you are short on time, but we still target all of the major muscle groups. It is a great routine to add in at the end of any workout, or just try to fit it in a few times a week.

No equipment is needed for this one, just a mat or a nice soft carpet.

Enjoy!

This is the meat and potatoes of the course... the Long Stretch Class. I suggest you make an appointment in your schedule to do this weekly. If you are a seasoned athlete, you can do it on your 'rest day'. If you are a weekend warrior, this will help you to prevent injuries. And if you are less active, this might make your body start to feel more refreshed and energized, and perhaps ready to take on new activities.

We go through all of the major muscle groups that you have already seen in the previous videos, but with some different options to try. If the options from the Standing or Short Stretch classes work better for you, then you can do those here. We also dive deeper into some other muscle groups that you may not have paid much attention to in the past, so you will create a whole new body awareness.

You will need a few props for this one... I use a box, but you can use a staircase for the calf stretches. I use a Theraband, but you can use a yoga strap, a belt, or a towel for the hamstring stretches. And some of you may feel more comfortable with a little head or neck support from a pillow or a yoga block when you are lying on your back.

Remember to listen to your body, and ease off the stretch if it feel like too much, take deep breaths and enjoy.

Here is a wonderful class full of great alternatives for you!

If you are very beginner to fitness or stretching, or if you have an mobility or balance issues, this would be a great place to start and then work up to some of the other classes.

This is also going to give you lots of ideas if you work sitting at a desk all day, make sure you give yourself some stretch breaks. Or again, when you're travelling, sitting (as a passenger) in a car, or in the airport.

Ideally you'll want a sturdy chair (not on wheels), and maybe without arms if possible.

Have fun with this one!

You made it!! You've completed this entire course, and that is something to be proud of. I know that everyone learns at a different pace. Some of you may have wanted to go through and look at the course first before taking action, while others might have been going in order, or some may have skipped to the Long Stretch first! Whichever path you chose, the most important things to keep in mind are:

• Be Patient - Pace yourself and listen to your body. You are creating new habits and muscles take time to adapt, but with practice it will come.

• Take action - Something is better than nothing. If there are things in this program that don't feel right, leave them for now and re-visit them as you build strength. Use this program as a guideline to kickstart yourself into getting more movement and mobility, and be proud of the results.

• HAVE FUN!!! - You are trying something new, and that is amazing. Don't take it too seriously, make it fun and you will be more likely to continue on your wellness journey.

Wishing you so much success, thank you so much for doing this program!