Planes, Trains, and Posture Pains?
The ONE stretch you need when traveling
There’s something about traveling that makes your posture beg for mercy!
Sitting on a plane for 10 straight hours overnight.
Carrying heavy bags.
Sleeping in different beds.
Holding a little stress in the neck muscles from being in a different country, an unfamiliar place.
My traps and rhomboids were aching!
After returning from our incredible 10 day trip to Italy, I realized how often I had to check in with my posture throughout our trip.
JUST ONE THING
Achy back after traveling?
Your JUST ONE THING To Relieve Travel Pain & Improve Posture
Thoracic spine opening stretches
When your back aches after traveling, it’s usually because your upper back is rounding forward too much.
You start to feel like a shrimp.🦐
And that puts a lot of strain on your upper back muscles.
The section of your spine that’s affected the most is your thoracic spine - from the base of your neck to about where your bra strap hits.
Doing a simple opening stretch to gently reverse the forward curvature in that area can help you feel better fast.
This exercise is perfect to help with that.
Upper Back Stretch for Instant Pain Relief & Better Posture
- Stand a full arms-length away from a chair or counter.
- Walk your feet away while still touching the chair. Your legs can be slightly bent or straight.
- Press your chest down to the floor and take 5 deep breaths.
Extra Tip: This stretch gives you a great release for your hamstrings, too! Bend one knee while straightening and stretching the other side, and then switch.
Did You Know...
- For your neck, shoulders, and upper back to feel their best, you need three things: thoracic mobility (as described above), chest flexibility, and strong upper back muscles.
- Good posture starts at your pelvis—not your shoulders. Your pelvis should move freely but stay mostly level throughout the day.
- If you’re stuck in a chair for a long period, do shoulder circles every 15-30 minutes. Shrug and roll your shoulders in a clockwise and counterclockwise motion to keep them loose.
Until next week... Be strong💪
