Stretching is an exercise aimed at developing flexibility and mobility in the joints. Its name comes from the English word “stretching”. Stretching is a harmonious and natural way to develop and strengthen the systems and functions of your body.
Most of us have to hold a towel in our hands at least once a day. A towel or elastic bandage is a good tool for stretching your arm, shoulder girdle, and chest muscles. Grasp the towel by its two ends so that it can be freely carried behind your back over your head with your arms outstretched. Do not strain or twist your arms. They should be far enough apart so that you can lift them up over your head relatively freely and transfer them behind your back. Breathe slowly. Do not hold your breath.
Best stretching exercises for the upper torso
To increase the load, reduce the distance between your hands and repeat the movement without bending your arms at the elbows. Do not overstretch. If you can’t do the exercise with your arms straight, it means they are too close. Grasp the towel closer to the ends.
You can hold the stretch in any phase of the movement. In this way, you will be able to stretch the muscles of this area of the body in various combinations.
For example, if you feel increased stiffness and soreness in the chest muscles, you can accentuate the load exactly on them, if you pause the movement in the position of the hand behind the back at shoulder level, as shown in the figure above.
Hold for 10-15 seconds.
Stretching your muscles is not a competition. You don’t need to compare your results with other people’s, because we are all different from each other. What’s more, even we ourselves feel differently on different days: some days our bodies show a much greater degree of mobility than others. Stretch at your own pleasure, without trying to jump over your head, and you will see for yourself that proper stretching provides a tremendous flow of physical energy.
Here’s another exercise using a towel.
Lift the towel over your head without bending your arms at the elbows. Bring your left arm back and down to shoulder level and at the same time bend your right arm at about a 90° angle in the elbow.
Now straighten your right arm and lower it to the same level as your left arm, then lower both arms down at the same time.
This exercise can be done slowly as a single movement, or you can stop at any phase to accentuate the load on a particular area. Repeat the movement in the other direction, lowering the right hand first.
*These articles are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your physician for any questions you may have about your medical condition.
