A Simple Standing Spinal Stretch To Loosen Up Your Whole Body

It's no secret that sitting for prolonged periods of time can have negative effects on overall health. Whether you work a sedentary job or are unwinding with a movie marathon, it's important to sprinkle little micro-movements into your routine every hour or so. 

By their very essence, micro-movements are simple exercises or stretches that you can do just about anywhere, in any type of clothing, without taking up too much time. If you're not sure which stretches fall into that category, try this "anytime, anywhere, any situation full-body stretch and release," from Pilates instructor and founder of B The Method Lia Bartha. 

Whether you have two minutes to spare before your next meeting, or 15 minutes to bring energy and mobility back into your body, this stretch is a calming yet effective way to use that time. "The more you reach and stretch in every direction, the more you benefit here," Bartha writes. 

Along with using this stretch to add movement into a long day of sitting, it can also help wake the body up in the morning, release tension after an intense workout, or simply calm the mind after a stressful day.