A Move You Should Do MONDAY – Stick Shoulder Stretch

Grab a stick and straighten out your posture! This week’s move, the stick shoulder stretch series, helps you do that with three simple moves. Let’s get started:

Hold a stick in your hands with your hands wider than shoulder width apart
Lift the stick overhead x 3 repetitions THEN
Lift the stick overhead and place it behind your head x 3 repetitions THEN
Lift the stick overhead and place it behind your back x 3 repetitions

You can advance the exercise by narrowing the width of your grip and bringing your hands closer together.

Why does this matter?

This exercise stretches three key muscles that may become chronically tight if you slouch: latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major and pectoralis minor. By elevating your arms overhead, you not only stretch these tight muscles, but you also activate their antagonists: the rhomboid and trapezius muscles, muscles of your upper back that help straighten out your slouch.

So give the stick shoulder stretch series a try. Your shoulders and back will thank you and you just might look a little bit taller.

Because nobody has time to be in pain.

Until next time…