Pilates Mat Exercise - Spine Stretch

 

Here are instructions for doing a Spine Stretch:

 

1. Sit up high on your sit bones. The legs are stretched out straight and the feet are flexed back. Reach the top of your head to the sky but let your shoulders stay relaxed.

2. Inhale and reach the arms out in front of you, shoulder height. A modification here would be to place the fingertips on the floor in front of you between your legs.

3. Exhale as you curl forward with a long neck and dropped shoulders. You are going for a deep C-Curve. Allow a deep release in the hips as you reach your fingers toward your toes.

4. Exhale a little more as you enjoy the fullness of your stretch.

5. Inhale as you initiate in the lower abdominals to bring the pelvis upright and roll back up through the spine to sitting.