After a hard workout, it’s important to stretch your muscles and allow for proper recovery! Targeting the correct muscles after a focused workout can help to reduce muscle stiffness and soreness . Feeling muscle tension the day after your workout can slow you down and impact your ability to do your day-to-day activities. Working with a qualified Stretchologist can help you to target those muscles and achieve a deeper stretch while also helping you to relax.
During your assisted stretch, your Strechologist will use our VibraCussor tool, which allows us to painlessly release stubborn, local fascial tightness. The VibraCussor’s gentle stimulating action paired with PNF increases blood supply to the area and increases firing of mechanoreceptors within the involved muscles and connective tissue thus eradicating nerve interference and pain. This will amplify your stretch experience and help you to move and feel your best! After your stretch, your Stretchologist can also recommend stretches to do from home that target your specific needs and goals!
If you have just completed a shoulder focused workout, here are some stretches to help you recover faster.
Shoulder Cross Stretch:
Stand or sit up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Extend your right arm straight out in front of you at shoulder height.
Take your left arm and reach across your body, placing your left forearm on your right forearm.
Gently pull your right arm towards your body until you feel a stretch in your left shoulder.
Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds.
Repeat on the other side by extending your left arm and reaching across your body with your right arm.
Doorway Stretch:
Stand in a doorway and place your forearms on either side of the door frame at shoulder height.
Take a step forward with one foot to gently lean into the stretch.
You should feel a stretch in the front of your shoulders and chest.
Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds.
Shoulder and Upper Back Stretch:
Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Interlace your fingers in front of you and extend your arms straight out.
Rotate your palms away from your body, so your hands are facing outward.
Push your arms forward while rounding your upper back, feeling a stretch in your shoulders and upper back.
Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds.
Child’s Pose:
Begin on your hands and knees with your knees slightly wider than hip-width apart.
Sit back onto your heels and slowly lower your upper body towards the floor, reaching your arms out in front of you.
Rest your forehead on the floor or a cushion if more comfortable.
Feel the stretch in your shoulders, upper back, and lats.
Hold the stretch for 30-60 seconds.
Remember to listen to your body and check in with yourself! If you experience any pain or discomfort, reduce the intensity of the stretch or stop altogether–stretching should not be painful. Consulting with a Stretchologist can help to ensure that the stretches are appropriate for your specific needs and abilities, and help you to achieve your goals! Visit us at any of our 3 locations in Seattle and Bellevue.
