Front Shoulder & Pectoral Stretch

Opening the chest and shoulder muscles will release tons of tension! You may even feel a release in the neck muscles here, which can help with vision and overall focus. Shot recoil creates tension in these areas, so you may find the targets become clearer as you stretch and release the chest, neck, and shoulders. Creating mobility and strength allows the spine to stay in place. Tight muscles can pull and tug on the spine causing all sorts of issues for different body systems. Our entire health starts with a healthy spine so be sure to strengthen and stretch, focusing on extra tight or overworked areas. 

Laying Down: Lay on belly. Extend right arm out, in line with shoulder and palm to the floor. Look away from the extended arm by placing your right temple on the ground. Bend the left knee and gently roll over to your right side, sending the left hip up to sky and placing your left hand in front of chest. Place the left foot on the ground behind your right-side body. Think about flattening the right hand completely and gently pushing into the pinky side of the hand keeping the shoulder down away from the ears. Hold for 10 cycles of breath. The inhale and exhale are one cycle. 

For a deeper stretch, do this exact same stretch with a bend right elbow creating a 90-degree shape instead of straight arm. As you roll over that right shoulder, lift the left hip to the sky and bring the left arm: to the low back, reach it high to the sky, or just keep left hand on the earth helping to stabilize the stretch. 

Standing: Find a doorway, pole, or tree as a prop. Stand next to your prop and bring the right arm to the prop placing the arm at 90 degrees. Stack wrist above elbow, and elbow in line with shoulder. Gently lean forward with the body. Hold this chest and shoulder stretch for abou1 minute each side. Adjust as needed and breathe deeply imagining the tight muscles softening. 

For a deeper stretch, begin to turn away from the prop and bent arm. Do this also with a straight arm. 

Remember, the stretches are described starting with the right-side body, but always repeat on the left side body as well. What you do to one side, must be done to the other side in order to maintain body balance.