These 5 easy stretching exercises will release your stress in a jiffy

Let go of stress and strengthen your muscles with these simple stretching exercises that can you easily do in between working from home.
stretching exercises
Stretching exercises can help you leave stress behind. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Published by Dr Archana Batra
Published On: 25 Dec 2020, 12:09 pm IST
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When you are super stressed, it is not only your body but also your mind which needs relaxation. You feel extremely tired because of the restricted blood flow.  In this state, you do not want to get into hardcore exercises. 

Some easy and quick stretches can do miracles by releasing the pain from stiff joints and by soothing your nerves. Here are five stretching exercises which will help you to release your stress. 

1. Gentle neck stretch

If you are going through a tough day, the neck muscles are the first to get affected. Stiff muscles make you more susceptible to injury.

stretching exercises
Text ain’t no joking matter! In fact, it can be very painful for your neck. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

All you need is to take a moment to breathe and stretch your neck towards your ear. Perform this exercise for at least three minutes. After a few moments, you will feel your pain melting away.

2. Slow side stretch

This will not only give relief to your side muscles but also will relax your spine. You can feel the cracks of the air bubbles between your joints.

Stand straight and maintain a good posture. Stretch up towards the ceiling as you inhale and slowly bend to your left side as you exhale. Repeat on the other side. Do not put pressure on your body because it will strain your muscles.

3. Upper body stretch

This exercise is especially beneficial for those who work the whole day sitting in a chair. They tend to suffer from severe back pain throughout their lives.

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Take short breaks of five minutes every one to two hours and perform this exercise. Puff out your chest as much as you can and clasp your hands behind your back. Take deep breaths simultaneously and let go of the anxiety. If you do this regularly, it will work like magic for your stress and your back.

4. Child’s pose

This exercise will benefit your lower back muscles as it reduces stiffness. Kneel down on the floor and create a V-shape by opening your knees apart.

stretching exercises
Hold onto that stretch and give your back a new lease on life with child’s pose. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Lower your chest on the ground by stretching your hands forward. It also promotes a healthy sleep cycle.

5. Longer hamstring stretch

Stress can give you tight hamstrings and leave you to deal with intolerable pain. If you do not pay attention to this problem, it may cause a permanent scar by tearing apart ligaments. Dehydration is one of the main reasons for this problem. Do this exercise along with drinking plenty of water.

This is how you can do it: Lie down straight on your back. Put both your palms under your knees. Lift each knee as high as you can. Repeat this process for 3-4 minutes.

Some revitalizing stretches not only decrease the secretion of stress hormones but also stimulate the nervous system. These exercises are so convenient that you can also do them during work hours, in-between breaks. These stretching exercises will increase your concentration which will definitely improve your performance in life.

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About the Author

Dr Archana Batra is a dietitian, physiotherapist, and a certified diabetes educator. Dr Archana has 12 years of experience in nutrition and diet counseling. She believes in maintaining healthy eating. Her specialization is on weight management diets and diets related to metabolic disorders like diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and hypertension etc. ...Read More

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