Tub Stretch

**Disclaimer: http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com takes no responsibility for injuries incurred while attempting this activity **

Take advantage of warm muscles by stretching in the tub.

Move slowly and carefully while attempting these movements, as tubs are, as Bon Jovi so eloquently titled an album, "Slippery when Wet."

Fill a tub with the hottest water you can withstand and add 2 cups of Epsom Salts.

Soak for 15 minutes.

Spend the next ten minutes holding the following stretches:

1: Hamstring: Bend one leg. Extend the other leg straight up and grasp the back of your thigh, hamstring, calf, ankle or foot. Pull extended leg into body. Repeat on other side.

2. Low back, glute: Bring one knee into chest. Cross knee over opposite side of body so that you are in a twist. Try to get knee to bottom of tub. Repeat other side.

3. Quads: Kneel in tub. Place hands behind your rear end and lean back to stretch quads.

4. Upper Body. Face away from edge of tub. Clasp hands behind you and press palms together. Hook wrists on edge of tub and stretch through chest and upper body.

Relax and soak for another 5 minutes when finished.

(image from: shutterstock.com)

Exercise

A healthy, fit body translates directly into looking and feeling damn good!

Breath and movement are essential to the body's proper function, maintenence of health and essential to sculpt strong, flexible muscle.

Be sure to include well rounded, varied modalities of exercise to keep your body from adjusting to the exercise routine you practice.

Include elements for strength, cardio vascular fitness and flexibility.

If you only have a short period of time to work out each day, say twenty minutes ... be sure to rotate your choice of exercise each day. If you have more extended period of time, up to one hour, be sure to mix modalties within each workout.

It is important that your body be constantly surprised with the challenges you present it with. This keeps your brain interested and your muscles constantly adapting to new activities.

Here is a great 30 minute mixed modality workout to try:

5 min warm up: Standing knees into chest, jog in place, high knees, butt kicks, side lunges and squats

10 min strength: Do the following exercises back to back as a circuit for 10 minutes
Body weight squats 20 reps
Push Ups (regular) 15 reps
Bridgeing - (hip lifts - alternate single legs for more difficulty)
Push Ups (close grip)- 10 reps
Side plank lifts - 15 each side (lifting and lowering hip to ground)
5 min cardio: Jump rope, jog in place with high knees and butt kicks, or jacks for 5 minutes no rest

5 min yoga: Practice Ashtanga Sun Salute A for five minutes without stopping
Click here to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P5PSqmnu88

5 min stretch: Stretch your whole body from head to toe. Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds