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Beat the Holiday Stress: Stretching Exercises for Relaxation

The holidays are a great time to spend time with family and friends. Gathering around the table or traveling in an airplane or car can be taxing on the body. Here are some easy stretches to reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation. 

Woman with neck pain
Photo By: Kaboompics.com

Neck Rolls: (Work in a pain-free range of motion)

Knotty Tiger Jr for neck massage
Photo by Manuel Lopez
  • Use the Tiger Tail Knotty Tiger® Jr. to roll the muscles on each side of the neck. Then, follow this with gentle neck stretches.
  • Start Position: Sit or stand with your back straight and shoulders relaxed. 
  • Chin Tuck: Gently lower your chin towards your chest, feeling a stretch along the back of your neck. 
  • Roll to the Side: Slowly roll your head to one side, bringing your ear towards your shoulder. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.

Seated Torso Stretch in a Chair

Woman In Grey Sweater Raising Both Of Her Arms stretching torso
Photo by Artem Mizyuk
  • Sit upright in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart.
  • Keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.
  • Inhale: Raise both arms overhead, reaching towards the ceiling. Keep your palms facing each other.
  • Exhale: Slowly lean to one side, keeping your hips facing forward. You can use your opposite hand to gently press down on your thigh for support.
  • Hold: Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, breathing deeply.
  • Inhale: Return to the starting position.
  • Exhale: Repeat on the other side.

Low Back/Hamstring Stretch using Chair

Hamstring using Chair
Photo by Samuel Sutanto
  • Stand next to the chair with feet together and inhale lifting arms overhead
  • Exhale and bend at the hips and gently grasp the back of the chair
  • Let the chest drop slightly and push the hip back feeling a stretch in the low back
  • Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times

Conclusion

Stretching is not only beneficial for travelers but also for anyone who spends long hours sitting or standing. Regular stretching can improve flexibility, posture, and circulation. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, promoting overall well-being. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or simply looking to improve your daily routine, incorporating self-care stretching can make a significant difference in your physical and mental health.

For more information on our programs or our awesome muscle care tools, visit www.tigertailusa.com or email [email protected]

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JulieZuleger

Dr. Julie Zuleger has over 20 years of experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Strength, and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Corrective Exercise Specialist, RYT-500 Yoga Instructor, and Human Movement Specialist. Julie promotes self-care using massage tools and stretching-based programs and teaches continuing education courses for yoga teachers, massage therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning, fitness, and wellness professionals. Julie holds a PhD in Education and is the Director of Kinesiology and Education at Tiger Tail USA.