Photo: lululemon athletica / Flickr

By helping your muscles to relax, you can bring more peace and focus to your mind as well as improve your posture. To get into a relaxing stretch, it helps to wear some comfortable clothes, create a warm room and use a floor mat. While you’re stretching, concentrate on your breathing so that you are breathing slowly and deeply. Go into the stretch position as you are exhaling and then hold the stretch while you continue to focus on your breathing.

How to stretch to relax

When you get into one of the stretches discussed below, try to hold your position for a count of 10. Once you’ve counted to 10, relax and repeat the stretch. By doing this you relax into the stretch and are then able to stretch a little further. You can increase the count of your stretch until you’re able to stretch for a minute or longer.

Stretch your spine

A spinal stretch can be as easy as sitting on a chair and dropping your head and neck forwards. As you ease your spine forwards, you will feel the stretch along your back.

For a bigger spinal stretch, kneel on a mat on the floor so that your buttocks are resting on the heels of your feet. Stretch your body forward over your thighs and elongate your neck so as to tuck your head into your knees. Breathe slowly as you rest your arms on either side of your legs with your palms in an upwards position.

Long body stretch

Another stretch to relax your whole body is the long body stretch. Lie on a mat on the floor. Place your arms above your head and rest them on the floor while you point your toes. In order to close the gap between your lower back and the floor a little, tilt your pelvis up slightly. Bring your chin down towards your neck. Relax into the posture as you breathe slowly and deeply.

If you’re stiff, do this stretch everyday and you’ll soon be able to touch the floor with your hands while keeping your buttocks, upper back and feet on the floor.

Tags: exercise