Upper Body Stretches
Keep your spine, arms and shoulders flexible with this group of simple yet effective upper body stretches. Learn the shoulder blade squeeze, marionette stretch and more.
Chest-And-Arm Stretch
Chest and arms tight? Get a great stretch with effective instructions from this video.
Stretches chest, shoulder and arm muscles and helps improve posture
Stretches chest, shoulder and arm muscles and helps improve posture
- Stand with your arms by your side.
- Keep your back straight as you clasp your hands together behind your back and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
- Roll your shoulders down and back.
- Relax, then repeat several times.
Marionette Stretch
Get a good stretch in your spine and help maintain flexibility with the marionette stretch.
Stretches spine
Stretches spine
- Sit or stand tall with your hands down by your side.
- Imagine a string located at the top back part of your head, just like a marionette.
- The imaginary string pulls your head up toward the ceiling, and then your chin tucks slightly and your spine lengthens.
- Hold. Relax. Repeat.
Overhead Reach Side Bend Stretch
Maintain spine flexibility with the overhead reach side bend.
Stretches the obliques and lower back and maintains spine flexibility
Stretches the obliques and lower back and maintains spine flexibility
- Stand comfortably with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Lift both arms above your head, lightly clasping your hands.
- Gently pull your shoulders back and stretch tall.
- Briefly hold, then, lean to the right and hold.
- Repeat to the left.
Shoulder Blade Squeeze
Learn how to stretch the back of the arms and shoulders using this triceps press stretch.
Stretches the triceps and shoulders
- Stand up straight and tall, then bring your arms above your head, bending your left elbow so that it points toward the ceiling.
- "Walk" the fingers of that hand down your back.
- Reach over with your right hand and gently press down on your left elbow to increase the stretch.
- Hold, then switch arms.
Triceps Press Stretch
Learn how to stretch the back of the arms and shoulders using this triceps press stretch.
Stretches the triceps and shoulders
Stretches the triceps and shoulders
- Stand up straight and tall, then bring your arms above your head, bending your left elbow so that it points toward the ceiling.
- "Walk" the fingers of that hand down your back.
- Reach over with your right hand and gently press down on your left elbow to increase the stretch.
- Hold, then switch arms.
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