Stretching Plan for Working From Home; A Real Stretch of the Imagination
You’ve been working from home the past few weeks. Thankful your employer gave you the opportunity to continue employment throughout this. The following stretching plan for working from home will help you feel better about being inside and get you ready for a summertime outside safely and with reduced soreness.
Follow this Stretching Program for Working From Home
Increasing one’s flexibility should be your first goal before starting a fitness program. In fact, if you are thinking about beginning a fitness program and you have been idle for many years, you should stretch for an entire week prior to starting running, lifting weights, or doing any calisthenics. It is okay to walk to warm up, however, your first 1-2 weeks of starting a fitness program should consist of the following stretches 1-2 times a day; and walking, biking or some other non-impact low intensity cardio activity for 10-15 minutes. Furthermore, even if you have no plan to start an exercise routine, the following discussion will really help you to feel just a little better and provide some energy while you are at home.
Hold these stretches or do these movements for at least 15-20 seconds each:
Shoulder Shrugs – Chest / Bicep Stretch – Forearm Stretch – Arm/Shoulder Stretch – Tricep/Lat Stretch (half moon) – Stomach Stretch – Calf Stretch – Lower back Stretch – ITB / Hip – Hamstring Stretch – Thigh Stretch – standing or laying on floor
Stretching and Warming Up
Holding these stretches for 15-20 seconds is the also a good way to end your workout. Do not bounce when performing these stretches and inhale deeply for three seconds, hold for three seconds and fully exhale. Do this twice per stretch. This will take you to the 15-20 second time minimum for holding these stretches for optimal results.
Shoulder Shrugs – Rotate your shoulders slowly up and down, keeping your arms relaxed by your side. Your shoulders should rotate in small circles and move up and down in slow distinct movements.
Chest Stretch – Grab a vertical and stationary object with your hand. Pull your body away from your arm in order to feel the stretch of your chest and shoulder connection. Also stretches your bicep.
Forearm Stretch – With your opposite hand pull backwards on your hand while keeping your arm straight and palm pointing in an upward direction. You will feel this stretch in the forearm and bicep / elbow connection.
Arm / Shoulder Stretch – Drop your shoulder and pull your arm across your chest. With the opposite arm, gently pull your arm across your chest and hold for 15 seconds. Repeat with the other arm.
Triceps into Back Stretch – Place both arms over and behind your head. Grab your right elbow with your left hand and pull your elbow toward your opposite shoulder. Lean with the pull. Repeat with the other arm.
Stomach Stretch – Lie on your stomach. Push yourself up to your elbows. Slowly lift your head and shoulders and look up at the sky or ceiling. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat two times.
Calf Stretch into Achilles Tendon Stretch – Stand with one foot 2-3 feet in front of the other. With both feet pointing in the same direction as you are facing, put most of your body weight on your leg that is behind you – stretching the calf muscle. Now, bend the rear knee slightly. You should now feel the stretch in your heel. This stretch helps prevent Achilles tendonitis, a severe injury that will sideline most people for about 4-6 weeks.
ITB (Ilio-Tibial Band) Stretch – Sit on the ground with your legs crossed in front of you. Keeping your legs crossed bring the top leg to your chest and bend it at the knee so that your foot is placed outside of your opposite leg’s thigh. Hold your knee for 15 seconds against your chest and repeat with the other leg. Note: Before and after running (walking) you could perform the ITB stretch. This will help prevent very common overuse injuries in the hips and knees.
Thigh Stretch Standing – Standing, bend your knee and grab your foot at the ankle. Pull your heel to your butt and push your hips forward. Squeeze your butt cheeks together keep your knees close together. You can hold onto something for balance if you need to OR you can lie down on your hip and perform this stretch.
As you may know, the lower back is the most commonly injured area of the body. I have even injured my own spine! Many lower back problems stem from inactivity, lack of flexibility, and improper lifting of heavy objects. Stretching and exercising your lower back will help prevent some of those injuries. I have a complete series on lower back stretches and exercises; just ask.
Hamstring Stretch #1 – From the standing or sitting position, bend forward at the waist and touch your toes. Keep your back straight and slightly bend your knees. You should feel this stretching the back of your thighs.
Bend knees slightly to stretch the top side of the hamstring as well as the lower back.
Following this stretching program for working from home will help you not to be as stiff when you get out of that desk chair.
All stretches above can be done daily – even two times daily (am/pm) for about 15 minutes each session for TWO Weeks before you REALLY start to workout.
This program should help you get started with a stretching program of the major muscle groups.
