After an upper body warm-up it’s time to add the mid-section to your exercise routine.
Standing in good posture, with feet apart, reach down to the side as far as you can go, making sure the hand goes straight down the side of the leg to maintain proper body alignment.
Return to an upright position and repeat on the other side. Do this slowly four times (or as many times as you choose), alternating sides for a maximum stretch. Do not jerk or bounce. You should feel a very definite body-stretching sensation on the side of your torso. Done regularly, it helps to develop the strength to keep the upper body held high and reclaim a smaller waistline.
It’s a wonderful exercise for both men and women. To make it even more effective, exaggerate the breathing as you do it, by inhaling deeply as you lift the body to the alternate side, and exhale on the actual stretch. Thanks to the addition of the deep-breathing pattern, both your mental and physical energy level will increase.
Note: If you’re a person with extra weight that has settled in the stomach/hips area, this exercise is especially helpful for you. Remember: any exercise that pulls away from a large area will make that area smaller.
