Lunge with Spinal Twist Stretch Exercise:
Stand with feet hip-width apart. Take a huge step forward with left foot and lower until left knee is bent to 90 degrees. Keep right leg straight.
Place both hands on the floor, on either side of left foot, for support. This is a runner’s lunge position. Twist to the left from your waist as you draw left hand up and gaze up toward the ceiling. You’ll feel this in your right hip flexor, lower back, and glutes. Return hand to starting position and repeat on the other leg.
Benefits: Rotating the spine is one way to release tension in the soft tissue around the spine and increase our general mobility, particularly in the upper body. Twisting stimulates circulation, especially in the muscles, fascia, and organs of the abdomen and thorax. Spinal rotation also compresses our internal organs to stimulate digestion.