How To Stretch The Lower Back Stretches Video

Lower back pain can be caused by stiff muscles that require proper stretching. Learn how to do lower back stretch exercises in this stretching and flexibility video.

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2 yoga variations: cat stretch & child's pose
Don't arch neck
Avoid putting pressure on knees

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Amy McCauley has been a certified personal fitness trainer since 1995. She specializes in pilates, combat cardio, core conditioning and overall strength training. She works with clients ranging in age from 16 - 69. She has worked at Gold's Gym in Wilmington, NC since 2006. She loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to change peoples' lives in a positive way.

AMY MCCAULEY: Hi. I'm going to show you a stretch on how to stretch that lower back. Come down all the way down onto the floor and lay on you stomach. Take the hands next to your chest, relax your legs and you're going to peel up until it's collar upward facing [INDISCERNIBLE] movement. Relax your shoulders. You're going to feel that stretch in that lower back. Release it down to a neutral position and lift right back up. You can hold this between 5 and 30 seconds or you can stretch just a couple of times by lifting and lowering. You're getting an active range of motion. Things to avoid: we don't want to hyperextend so we don't want to put too much pressure on that back by hyperextending the back. Keep yourself within the elbows, as you lower, return to relax the shoulders so if you're choking your neck, you're putting a lot of strain in the neck. Let your shoulders relax down the spine. It's a nice long range of motion. Inhale as you come up holding and exhale as you lower. We're working right across that lower back, so just take your time. Key points: Hands right next to the chest, elbows tucked, leg straight, you now lengthen up, lengthen through the crown of the head, hold, and breathe. Try not to hold your breath, allow those back muscles to release, and then softly lower. This is how we do your back stretches.

How to Stretch the Lower Back Stretches Video

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