Tips to Prevent Injury
Advice from fitness trainer Nadia Murdock:
Start with a gentle warmup if you are stretching before your workout. This helps to loosen up the joints and improves the blood flow to the muscles in your body. Try incorporating a few jumping jacks or a minute of running in place. Avoid bouncing in the stretch; hold the stretch for at least 20 seconds and don’t rush it.
A few simple moves:
Forward lunge: Kneel on one knee, place the other leg forward at a 90-degree angle, making sure the knee is over the ankle. Lean into the movement to feel the stretch in the inner thigh. Hold for at least 20 seconds and then switch legs.
Standing quad stretch: If you need additional support in this stretch, you can use a wall or chair. Raise one foot behind you; on the same side of the body, reach back to grab your foot at the ankle and pull it toward your seat, stretching the thigh. Keep the knees close and square your hips by keeping them forward. Hold for at least 20 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
Seated straddle lotus: Sit down on the floor with the soles of your feet together in front of you. Gently press your knees to the floor while placing your forearms on the inside of the knees. Push down as you lean your body forward toward the ground. Make sure you are leaning forward from the hips. Hold this stretch for at least 20 seconds and repeat if you feel you need to.
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