Pelvic Floor 2

Instructions

• Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
• Slowly sweep your arms out and up over your head.
• Keep your hands shoulder-width apart and reach toward the ceiling.
• Relax your shoulders and look slightly upward.

Tips

• Ground your feet firmly into the floor and distribute your weight evenly between your feet.
• Engage your core muscles to avoid arching your lower back.

Modifications

• For less intensity, place your hands behind your head or on your hips.

Benefits

Abdomen, Chest, Lats, Obliques, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

Instructions

• Start from a standing position with your feet wide and your toes pointed forward.
• Keeping your back straight, hinge at your hips to bend forward, lowering your upper body toward your legs.
• Relax your head, neck, and arms and try to place your palms on the floor.

Tips

• Focus on lengthening your spine as you fold forward.
• Keep your legs straight but not locked.
• To deepen the stretch, grab your ankles and pull your head closer to the floor.

Modifications

• If you can't reach the floor, place your hands on your shins or blocks.

Benefits

Calves, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Instructions

• Start from a kneeling position with your arms at your sides.
• Step forward with one leg, placing your foot flat on the floor in front of you.
• Push your hips forward and raise your arms overhead.
• Lift your chest and reach toward the ceiling.

Tips

• Keep your front knee stable and align it directly above your ankle.
• Engage your back leg, pressing the top of your foot into the floor.
• Keep your torso upright and avoid arching your lower back.

Modifications

• For less intensity, keep your hands on your front thigh.
• Place a towel or cushion under your back knee for support.
• Hold onto a wall or chair for balance if needed.

Benefits

Abdomen, Hips, Lower Back, Psoas, Quadriceps

Instructions

• Start from a kneeling position with your knees hip-width apart and the tops of your feet on the floor.
• Extend one leg straight out in front of you, pressing your heel into the floor.
• Hinge at your hips to lower your upper body toward the floor.
• Place your hands on the floor in front of you for balance.

Tips

• Keep your chest lifted and your back straight.

Modifications

• Place a folded blanket under your knee for additional support.

Benefits

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Instructions

• Start on your hands and knees in the tabletop position.
• Align your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.
• Inhale, dropping your belly towards the floor and arching your back, and lifting your chin and chest to look up toward the ceiling.
• Exhale, drawing your belly up toward your spine and rounding your back, and tucking your chin to your chest.

Tips

• Move slowly between the poses, coordinating each movement with your breath.

Modifications

• If you have neck issues, keep your head in a neutral position rather than lifting and tucking your chin.

Benefits

Abdomen, Lower Back, Neck, Spine, Upper Back

Instructions

• Start lying on your stomach with your legs extended and your hands under your shoulders.
• Press your palms into the floor, straightening your arms to lift your upper body and legs off the floor.
• Lift your chest, relax your shoulders, and look slightly upward.

Tips

• Only the tops of your feet and your palms should be touching the floor.
• Keep your arms straight but avoid locking your elbows.

Modifications

• For less intensity, keep your thighs on the floor.

Benefits

Abdomen, Chest, Psoas, Spine

Instructions

• Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
• Widen your knees and bring your big toes together so they're touching.
• Sit back on your heels, then reach forward with your hands and lower your chest toward the floor.
• Relax your hips and rest your forehead on the floor.

Tips

• Walk your fingertips forward to increase the stretch.
• Allow your chest to sink towards the floor.

Modifications

• For less intensity, don't spread your knees as wide.
• If your forehead doesn't reach the floor, rest it on a block or folded blanket.

Benefits

Ankles, Feet, Hips, Lower Back, Shins, Shoulders

Instructions

• Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
• Lower your forearms to the ground and widen your knees out to sides, keeping your hips in line with your knees and your toes pointed outward.
• Gently press your hips back towards your heels.

Tips

• Keep your chest lifted and your gaze forward.

Modifications

• Bring your knees closer together to reduce the intensity.

Benefits

Groin, Hips, Lower Back

Instructions

• Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
• Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together, letting your knees fall out to the sides.
• Hold your feet with your hands and gently press your knees towards the floor.

Tips

• Pull your feet up and push your knees down with your elbows to deepen the stretch.
• Keep your back straight and avoid rounding your spine.

Modifications

• If your knees are high off the ground, place cushions under your thighs for support.
• Sit on a folded blanket to raise your hips and improve comfort.

Benefits

Groin, Hips

Instructions

• Start lying on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides.
• Bend your knees and draw them towards your chest.
• Wrap your arms around your shins and gently pull them closer to your chest.

Tips

• Relax your head and neck on the floor.
• Keep your lower back pressed into the floor.

Modifications

• If you can't reach your shins, wrap your arms behind your thighs.

Benefits

Glutes, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Instructions

• Start lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
• Engage your core and glutes to lift your hips off the floor, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
• Keep your palms and shoulders pressed into the floor and hold the position.

Tips

• Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
• Avoid arching your lower back; the movement should come from your hips and glutes.

Modifications

• For less intensity, lift your hips only partially off the ground.
• If you feel any neck strain, try placing a small, folded towel under your head for support.

Benefits

Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower Back

Instructions

• Start lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
• Engage your core to tilt your pelvis up and press your lower back into the floor.
• Keep your arms at your sides with your palms on the floor and hold the position.

Tips

• Imagine drawing your navel down towards your spine.
• Keep your glutes relaxed; the movement should come from your core.

Modifications

• If it's uncomfortable to lie on the floor, perform the exercise against a wall.

Benefits

Lower Back

Instructions

• Start lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
• Cross one ankle over the opposite thigh, just above the knee.
• Lift your bottom leg off the floor, bringing your knee towards your chest.
• Reach forward and clasp your hands behind the thigh of your bottom leg.
• Gently pull your leg towards your chest.

Tips

• Keep your head and shoulders relaxed on the floor.
• Keep your lower back pressed into the floor.

Modifications

• If reaching behind your thigh is difficult, use a strap or towel to assist.
• For a gentler stretch, keep your bottom foot on the floor.

Benefits

Glutes, Hips, IT Band, Lower Back

Instructions

• Start lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
• Bring the soles of your feet together and let your knees fall out to the sides.
• Place your arms alongside your body with your palms facing up.

Tips

• Allow gravity to gently open your hips without forcing them.

Modifications

• Place cushions or blocks under your outer thighs for support.

Benefits

Groin, Hips, Spine

Instructions

• Start lying on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides.
• Bend one knee and place your foot flat on the floor.
• Gently lower your bent knee across your body towards the opposite side, allowing your torso and hips to twist.
• Place your opposite hand on the outside of your bent knee and extend your other arm out to the side.

Tips

• Keep your shoulders flat on the floor.

Modifications

• If the twist is too intense, place a cushion or block under your bent knee for support.

Benefits

Chest, Glutes, IT Band, Lower Back, Obliques, Spine, Upper Back

Instructions

• Start lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
• Lift your feet off the floor to bring your knees towards your armpits.
• Grasp the outer edges of your feet with your hands and gently pull your knees towards the floor.

Tips

• Keep your lower back pressed into the floor.
• Relax your shoulders and neck.

Modifications

• If you can't reach your feet, hold onto your ankles or calves instead.

Benefits

Glutes, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back