Technique Tuesday — The Best Way to Stretch Your Chest
Survey time… How many of you have been in a yoga class where the teacher instructed you to “Open your heart space?” If you’re like us, your response was “Ehheeemmmm WTF?!” Allow us to break it down for you. This flowery language is referring to the space in the center of your chest. Think sternum.
So what’s the big deal? The chest is an area that gets particularly junked up with all the forward hunching our daily lifestyles facilitate. Whether slumped forward at your desk or hunched over in the squat rack, your shoulder range of motion is inclined to shrink as the space across your chest shortens. Lucky for you, we have a solution — a simple chest stretch that you can do anytime, anywhere. Go ahead and bust it right now as you read the step-by-step, no mat required…
Try it: Stretch Your Chest
This athlete-fave helps to re-lengthen tight pec (that's your chest) muscles, which helps to prevent shoulder injuries, and relieves neck tension. The pose also creates more space for your breath, which in turn helps to boost your endurance. It's an all-around energizer.
- Bring your hands to your low back and interlace your fingers — if that’s not possible just rest your hands on your low back with your fingers pointing toward the floor.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades toward each other and take your elbows closer together so that you feel your chest broaden.
- Relax your neck!
- Hold for 5 deep breaths.
Give it a go! Spring is here, the sun is shining, and your “heart space” should shine too… ha!