The evening is still an activity-filled time for many adults. But many of these adults feel depleted with energy after a long day at work. The idea of lying down and falling asleep sounds heavenly. But there are so many things that had to be done. There are children to attend and chores to finish. Forcing yourself to fulfill your responsibilities and tasks at home can lead to irritation and anxiety. Fortunately, there are flexibility exercises that will help calm your anxiety and even energize you to cope with an evening out. These exercises are suggested by Jo Fasen, an orthopedic specialist of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
At 6 PM, relieve the stress accumulated during the day by doing two stretching exercises. You will stretch your abdomen, your sides, and your back. In the first stretching exercise, your starting position will be for you to stand straight with your feet apart as wide as your shoulders and your hands relaxed on your hips. Then, tucking in your tummy, slowly and gently twist your trunk to your right. Hold this position until you feel the pressure in your belly. Then, go back to your starting position. Repeat the twisting of your trunk, but this time, move to the left.
In the second stretching exercise, you will first take the same starting position. Then, reach your left arm upwards and slowly and gently lean to the right. Curve your left arm above your head with your palm facing downwards. Hold this position while keeping your shoulders relaxed. Then, return to the starting position. Repeat the same stretching by lifting your right arm and bending sideward to left. You will feel both your sides being stretched.
When facing an evening out, you need to do two more stretching exercises before wriggling into your party clothes. In the first exercise, be in the starting position described above. Then, bend forward at the hips and knees. Do not curve your back as you do this. Try to make your hands reach your feet but do not bounce and do not force your fingers to touch your toes. Hold this position as you feel your butt and thighs being stretched.
In the second exercise, begin at the starting position. Then straighten up using your hips. Next, reach your arms above your head and slightly to the back. Reach as high as possible but do not arch your back. You should feel the stretch in your shoulders, chest, abdomen and upper back.
If you are experiencing back pains, it is best that you forego doing these two evening out exercises.
