Flexibility exercise

Cobra Stretch

How to do it

Lie face down on the floor with the legs extended and the tops of the feet flat, placing the hands under the shoulders.
Press through the palms to lift the chest off the floor while keeping the hips and thighs in contact with the mat.
Straighten the arms only as far as comfortable, feeling a stretch through the front of the abdomen as the chest rises.
Breathe evenly, inhaling as you lift and exhaling as you settle into the raised position.
Hold the raised position for 20 to 30 seconds before lowering back down.
Keep the shoulders away from the ears and the hips grounded rather than pushing up through a locked lower back, which is the most common fault.

Rectus AbdominisThe 'six-pack' muscle running vertically on the front of the abdomen, responsible for trunk flexion.

Hip FlexorsGroup of muscles including the iliopsoas responsible for lifting the thigh toward the torso. All Hip Flexors exercises