Cat Stretch (Back Stretches)

The Cat Stretch helps strengthen your lower back muscles and ease any minor back pain due to bad posture. Learn how to do the Cat Stretch in this section:

	STEP 1: Go down on your hands and knees. Maintain a straight back.
	STEP 2: Create a curve in the middle of your back by pushing your spine upward. Hold the position for 5 seconds, then release the stretch and return to the starting position.

Stress makes your muscles tense up and can cause headache, stiff neck, sore shoulders, and a knotted back. The back takes in tension more than any other part of the body. During a Fitness workout, the back muscles contract, further increasing the tension. Full body stretching will relax your muscles, help you breathe deeper, and release all of the accumulated tension your body takes each day.