Return to Life: Thigh Stretch
– Tight hips – this is the answer you’ve been looking for!
Done right, this exercise will stretch tight hip flexors and quads.
What’s it good for?
Athletes
- Stretch tight hip flexors and quads that have been overworked in a small range of movement during endurance training activities..
Pilates Geeks
- This will help you better find the very challenging Shoulder Bridge more accessible: an exercise that is coming soon…
Difficulty: Starters
Reps: 4-6
The “how to”
Kneeling up, bring your arms into a horizontal position.
Exhale engage your abdominals and as you
Inhale bend your knees as you push your hips forward, keeping your arms horizontal.
Hints and Tips
💡 Engage your abdominals so that you don’t bend into two at the hip – that’s where your upper leg bones meet you pelvis (aka femurs).
💡 Think of reaching your upper leg bones up and forward as you lean back from your knees.
💡 Keep your head inline with your spine – this exercise is about getting a stretch rather than doing a backbend.
💡 As you lean, think “long” back as you lean back.
💡 Think of breathing “into the stretch”.
Extras: Precautions
☀️ … You might experience some pain as this stretch can be very uncomfortable. Try to distinguish between “stretching pain” and “damaging pain”
☀️ … Knee problems: you can kneel on a pad, bloster or cushion, or limit the range of motion.
