Athletes and office workers can equally benefit from stomach stretching exercises. The abdominal muscles can become strained during sports or other exercise just like other muscles of the body. They can also become shortened from being placed in a hunched over position for long periods of time, which is common among people who sit through long periods of the day.
Prone Stretch
One way to stretch your stomach is to lie in a prone, or face down, position and then lift your upper body to elongate your stomach. Variations of this kind of stretching include the yoga poses cobra, wheel, and upward facing dog. You don't have to sign up for yoga, though, to get the benefits from this type of abdominal stretch. The stomach stretch on elbows exercise may be done in your living room. Begin by lying on your stomach with your legs extended straight on the floor behind you. Then, prop yourself up onto your forearms with your elbows in line with your shoulders and allow your back to arch. The hips and lower body should remain in contact with the floor. You will look forward and pull your shoulders back.
Supine Stretch
Another way to exercise to stretch the stomach is to assume a supine, or face up, position. The easiest way to do this is to lie on a stability ball, so that you can achieve the curve in your spine necessary to elongate the stomach muscles without having to lift your body. Simply lie face up on a ball with your feet on the floor and your arms extended overhead and toward the floor. Your knees will be bent to a comfortable degree depending on your height and flexibility. Relax your neck and back on the ball and allow your body to drape onto the ball you stretch.
You can also try the yoga wheel pose if you have the strength and flexibility. This pose is sometimes called upward bow.
Standing Stretch
Standing stretches for the stomach can be done anywhere from the office to the grocery store. It may be difficult to get as great of a range of motion from a standing position though, especially if you have difficulty with balance. However, since you don't need a stability ball or a clean floor to perform these exercises they are worth learning. One standing stretch is done by placing your hands on your buttocks with your arms straight and leaning backwards to arch your back and stretch your stomach. You will look toward the ceiling. Another way to stretch the stomach while standing is to lean back as before and then rotate your shoulders to one side. This stretches the stomach muscles of the waist. If you want to stretch the left side, place your right hand on your buttocks and reach your left arm in front of your body toward your right hip. Then, lean back and twist your shoulders to the right.
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