Upper Body Movements

Keep your spine, arms and shoulders flexible and strong with this group of simple yet effective upper body stretches and strength moves. Learn the shoulder blade squeeze, marionette stretch and more. 

Tips to Safe and Successful Stretching: 

Stretch just until you feel gentle pulling in your muscle, then hold the stretch in that position. The stretch shouldn’t be painful.
Stretch gently and smoothly. Do not bounce. 
Breathe naturally as you hold the stretches. Don’t hold your breath. 
Repeat the stretches as needed, slowly increasing the depth of the stretch over time.

Tips to Safely and Successfully Use Resistance Bands:

Use a resistance band or tube with foam handles or add foam pipe insulation to bands or tubes to create makeshift handles that are easier and more comfortable to grip.
If handles aren’t an option, opt for resistance tubes — they’re gentler on hands and easier to grip than bands. 
Resistance tubes and bands come in a variety of lengths and resistance levels. Don’t rely on the color of the tube or band to gauge lengths and resistance levels as manufacturers use different colors to indicate these factors. The best way to determine which length and resistance level is best for you for a particular exercise is to try them.
The resistance should be challenging enough that the last few reps in a set of 10 to 12 reps is difficult, but not impossible.