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.
