Exercises that will help loosen up and stretch the body

Factors like a sedentary life styles and lack of exercise influence high blood pressure. With the daily pressures of today’s lifestyle, it’s easy to get stressed or simply think you do not have time for exercise but if you do not give yourself enough importance to take time out to care for yourself, you cannot help your condition. I am giving you some simple exercises to start with that will help loosen up and stretch the body. Relax as you are doing them and take note that with high BP, it is important that you do not hold your breath in any of the exercises given.

Caution: Do not hold your breath in any posture. Those with knee problems should avoid or take care while doing exercise three. Those with severe back problems should avoid or take care while doing exercise four.

• Sit with the legs stretched out in front, the feet together and the body relaxed

• Stretch both arms in front of you to shoulder level

• Keeping the arms straight, slowly stretch both the hands down from the wrist so that the fingers point to the floor.  Simultaneously, move the toes forward and stretch the feet

• Now, slowly stretch both hands up backward from the wrist. At the same time stretch the toes and feet up and towards the body

• Repeat ten times.

Exercise 2

• Sit with your back straight and legs stretched out

• Bend one leg and place it so that the heel touches the groin area

• Inhale and raise arms up straight

• Exhale and bend forward to grasp the ankle or foot and bring the forehead down to touch the knee

• Hold 10-30 seconds

• Repeat with the other leg.

Exercise 3

• Sit with your legs straight out and keep the back straight

• Bend your knees, bring the heels together and pull the feet towards the groin

• Inhale slowly and raise both arms, exhale and bend the body forward as shown

• Hold for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally

• Inhale slowly as you raise your body up.

Exercise 4

• Sit with the legs stretched out in front of you, the feet together

• Draw both knees, bent towards you

• With one arm, lock the knee from the outside and grasp the feet

• Fold the other arm behind the back, twist the spine and look back

• Hold for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally

• Repeat with the other side.