Back Stretches
Back stretches need to be done with great care. Back pain is extremely prevalent in our society and it's important that you understand the cause of your pain before doing these stretches. The problem can be as simple as tight hamstrings or quads (which we can certainly help with) or it may be a much more complex injury involving deterioration of the spine.
When your health practitioner gives the go-ahead, then these stretches will be of great benefit. If your problem is specifically in the lower back, please go to lower back stretches. If the problem is a more general one, read on..... Tension and tight muscles (or lack of strength in muscles), can cause severe postural problems. For instance, if your chest muscles are tight, you may find that they are drawing your shoulders forward, rounding out the back as a result. Our POSTURE page, will give useful information to help you understand spinal alignment and problems you may be facing. BELOW you have access to our online Correct Posture Test which will help you to discover exactly what stretches will be of benefit to you. This is available to you when you receive for our monthly newsletter. The NEWSLETTER, (called NEWSY PILATES STUFF), provides useful illustrated information about exercises and stretches, a little bit of gossip, and video stretches - and of course it's FREE. The form below is a simple one and requires little time to complete. So, let's have a look at a few beautiful back stretches. 
The first stretching exercise on the floor is a favourite gentle yoga position. Flop like you are a rag doll and consciously relax all your muscles. If you can't manage to get your backside over your feet, it's probably because your hamstrings are too tight - so again,check out our hamstring stretch. In this position, simply allow your shoulders to flop down, close your eyes, and relax and dont forget to breathe. 
The second stretch uses a stability ball, but you need to follow instructions. Again, imagine you are a rag doll. Unbuckle both knees, let your head and arms flop and close your eyes and relax. Focus on relaxing the whole body including thighs, hips and shoulders. You'll feel a wonderful stretch in your top hip, as very deep stabilising muscles as well as quads and hamstrings are letting go of their tension. If you love using the ball as much as I do, our BALANCE BALL EXERCISES are worthwhile. The third stretch, is also on the ball. The same insturctions apply. Rest your head on the ball, allow head and arms to flop back with no holding tension, then consciously relax hips, thighs and shoulder girdle. Breathe. Also, it is essential to do abdominal exercises together with these. Go to our CORE STRENGTH PAGE for wonderful examples to help develop core muscle strength. Back and front. Back muscles and abdominal muscles - 2 sides of the coin - can't have one without the other,as the song goes. When you're ready to take on exercises, following this link to LOWER BACK EXERCISES and view the video below which will show you wonderful lower back stretches. Go to Illustrated Stretching Exercises from Back Stretches
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