loosen up!

A Stretching Set For Men

Photography by keith munyan

	Maintaining good muscular endurance goes hand in hand with resistance training. The movements illustrated keep muscles loose and long, and injuries to a minimum when playing sports or performing physical tasks. The exercises can be performed daily. They also comprise a great warm-up and cool down on weight-training days. Complete 15 repetitions of each.
	TRICEPS Clasp hands over the head, with elbows bent. Keeping the upper arms stationary, lower hands behind the head. Pause, then return to starting position.
	BACK & HAMSTRINGS Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and arms overhead. Keeping a slight bend in the knees, proceed to bend and extend hands to feet. Pause, then return to starting position.
	TRUNK & ARMS Stand with hands open by shoulders. Proceed to extend the left hand overhead. Pause, then lower and extend the right hand overhead.
	HIPS & OBLIQUES Lie on your back with arms out to sides and legs raised at a 90-degree angle, thighs perpendicular to the ground. Proceed to lower legs to the right. Pause, then raise and lower legs to the left.
	BACK & ARMS Lie face down with hands palms down under shoulders supporting the slightly raised upper body. Keeping the lower body stationary, proceed to press up until arms are straight. Pause, then return to starting position.
	BACK & ABDOMINALS Stand with hands on hips and feet shoulder-width apart. Proceed to slowly bend back at the waist. Pause, then bend forward.
	SHOULDERS & OBLIQUES Stand with hands on hips and feet shoulder-width apart. Proceed to bend to the right, extending the left arm overhead. Pause, then bend to the left, extending the right arm overhead.