The Social: Posture Fixes for a Flatter Stomach
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If we told you there's a way to treat back pain while simultaneously making your stomach look flatter, would you believe us? Liza Egbogah says it's true!
See below for the celebrity chiropractor's treatments and stretches that can do the trick.
When your pelvis is tilted forward due to tight hip flexors, this can make your stomach stick out giving you the appearance of a protruding abdomen. Normalizing your pelvic tilt will cause your stomach to be flatter and look more toned. This treatment can also help to reduce bloating and the appearance of abdominal fat rolls.
The treatment includes myofascial release and manual stretching of the abdominals, hip flexors and quadriceps; percussion therapy on the stomach; chiropractic adjustments on the lower back and mobilizations of the hips
Hand to Floor Dancers Pose
Stand with your feet together. Inhale, shift your weight onto your right foot, and lift your left heel toward your left buttock as you bend the knee. Press the head of your right thigh bone back, deep into the hip joint, and pull the knee cap up to keep the standing leg straight and strong. Slowly bend forward to touch the floor in front of your while you kick your left heel back as you try to extend your leg. Stay in the pose for 20 to 30 seconds. Then slowly come back up to standing and release the grasp on the foot, place the left foot back onto the floor, and repeat for the same length of time on the other side.
BENEFITS: Tight hip flexors can cause your pelvis to tilt forward; giving the appearance of a protruding abdomen. This yoga pose not only helps to stretch your hip flexors but it also strengthens your core, glutes and legs.
Tree Pose
Stand with your feet together. Shift your weight slightly onto the left foot, keeping the inner foot firm to the floor, and bend your right knee. Reach down with your left hand and clasp your right ankle. Draw your right foot up and place your foot at the front of your left hip. As you continue to hold your right foot with your left hand, bring your right hand up to the center of your chest. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Bring your foot back down to the ground with an exhalation and repeat for the same length of time with the legs reversed.
BENEFITS: Tree pose provides a great stretch for the hip flexors and groin so not only does it help correct anterior pelvic tilt it also improves overall alignment and posture. Your core muscles are also working in this pose which means a tighter midsection.
Eagle Pose
Stand with your feet together. Bend your knees slightly, lift your left foot up and, balancing on your right foot, cross your left thigh over the right. Point your left toes toward the floor, press the foot back, and then hook the top of the foot behind the lower right calf. Balance on the right foot.
Stretch your arms straight forward and cross the arms in front of your torso so that the right arm is above the left, then bend your elbows. Snug the right elbow into the crook of the left, and raise the forearms perpendicular to the floor. Press the right hand to the right and the left hand to the left, so that the palms are now facing each other. The thumb of the right hand should pass in front of the little finger of the left. Now press the palms together (as much as is possible for you). Stay for 15 to 30 seconds, then unwind the legs and arms and repeat for the same length of time with the arms and legs reversed.
BENEFITS: Eagle pose is a great posture for improving lymphatic drainage and digestion. This means less water retention and bloating which ultimately leads to a flatter stomach.
Alternating Stars
Start with your feet together. Slowly bend to the right as you reach your right hand to touch the ground beside you. Exhale, press your right hand and right heel firmly into the floor, and straighten your right leg, simultaneously lifting the left leg parallel (or a little above parallel) to the floor. Extend actively through the left heel to keep the raised leg strong. Lower the raised leg to the floor with an exhalation and return the pose to the left for the same length of time. Alternate between sides 10 times.
BENEFITS: This is one of the best stomach toning yoga poses that you can do. Your oblique and deep core muscles are working here while they are also being stretched to help elongate your midsection.
Deep Squats
Start with your feet shoulder width apart. Slowly bring your buttocks down towards the ground into a deep squat. Ensure that the front of your knees never go past the front of your feet. Keep your heels on the floor if you can. Extend your arms out in front of you. Separate your thighs slightly wider than your torso. Exhaling, lean your torso forward and fit it snugly between your thighs. Hold the position for 5 seconds then inhale, straighten the knees, and stand. Repeat 10 times.
BENEFITS: Your core muscles have to work very hard in this movement while also creating a great stretch in the hips. The deep squat also helps to encourage great alignment so that your overall posture will be better and your stomach will look considerably flatter.
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