Back raising to Warm Up or Cool Down

Raise your back during warm up, as a means of keeping your body supple and preventing back pain due to over-stretching. This stretches the stomach and exercises the back muscles.

It is also a good way to stretch the entire body, but be careful not ot overdo it.

When back raising

• lay flat on your tummy, then push your upper body up by pushing your hands down on the floor.
• keep your hands in line under your chin and look up.
• keep your arms straight and your hands together.
• push your hips to the ground, maximising the angle between your body and the floor.
• as with other stretching exercises, do not bounce when stretching your tummy.