| Pilates stretching exercises are the answer to flight | | | | other arm. This stretches the triceps.o Seated in your |
| fatigue. When time does not allow travelers to | | | | seat, exhale and pull your belly towards your spine. |
| workout before or in between their flight schedules, | | | | Feel a deep contraction in the lower abdominal region. |
| why not exercise on the plane! Relief starts with some | | | | Hold for a moment and release. Repeat three to five |
| simple stretching exercises you can do while flying. | | | | times. Engaging the abdominal muscles in this way |
| You can keep your muscles loose without ever | | | | works to support your lower back and may ease |
| leaving your seat. | | | | fatigue. |
| Physical inactivity, especially on long flights, can cause | | | | Still seated, rotate your body as far to the right as you |
| an imbalance to muscle groups. Pilates stretching | | | | can . Hold for a moment and repeat to the other side. |
| exercises help restore balance by keeping muscles | | | | Do this spine twist three times each side.o Next walk |
| relaxed and reducing soreness and stiffness. | | | | to the rear of the plane and find an open space. Take |
| Because of cramped seating on some flights, leg | | | | a deep breath, lower your chin towards your chest |
| stretching exercises are the first one fliers should do. | | | | and roll your spine down until you are slightly bent |
| No matter how long your legs are or how long the | | | | forward. Inhale and stay for a moment feeling tension |
| flight is, your legs always seem to cramp before the | | | | drain from the upper back and neck. Exhale and roll |
| flight is over. | | | | yourself back up to your starting position. Repeat three |
| Here are a few gentle leg stretching exercises:o Take | | | | times. |
| your ankle off the ground and do complete circles to | | | | These are just a few examples of the kind of Pilates |
| the left and then to the right. Sets of 10 are usually | | | | stretches you can do when flying. Some airlines are |
| sufficient to loosen the lower muscles of your leg. | | | | even putting together their own in-flight exercise |
| Now flex your foot by drawing the toes towards your | | | | workout and playing it on their television screens. I |
| shin and stretch your leg as long in front of you as | | | | experienced this first hand on a recent flight to China. |
| possible. Feel a stretch in the calf muscle. Hold for a | | | | These Pilates stretching exercises are an excellent |
| moment and repeat three times before repeating on | | | | way to keep travelers comfortable especially in longer |
| the other leg. | | | | flights of 6 hours or more. |
| Let's not forget lower back pain, as well as neck and | | | | If nothing else, just make sure you move around every |
| shoulder stiffness.o Take your arms above your head | | | | hour to keep your blood moving. |
| and clasp the hands together. Flip your palms up to | | | | Now you can do something about being crammed into |
| face the ceiling and stretch your arms as high as you | | | | that dreaded middle seat. Whether you are a frequent |
| can. Pull your shoulders away from your ears. This | | | | or occasional traveler, try some of these easy Pilates |
| loosens your shoulders and quickly relieves any tension | | | | stretching exercises the next time you're at 37,000 |
| resting in your upper back. Inhale and exhale three or | | | | feet. Reducing flight fatigue will keep you fresh and |
| four times to allow the muscles to really relax. | | | | alert upon arrival.Please read |
| Raise one hand straight up over your head. With the | | | | pilates-stretching-exercises.html for more information. |
| other hand, grasp the bent elbow of the opposite arm | | | | Happy travels! |
| and gently pull. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat with the | | | | |