(This is part two of a three-part series where we break the Fascia Cat Stretch down into its component parts.)

In the last video we focused on spinal articulation and looked at how tight legs can block movement of the spine and pelvis.

Today I'll show you an exercise to help with leg tightness by turning the Fascia Cat exercise into a super effective stretch for the calves and hamstrings.

Always remember that everything's connected! When the back of the legs get too tight it can have a negative effect on the rest of your body.

For instance, tight hamstrings make it hard to even sit upright over your sitting bones, which is where you need to be for your spinal curves to align with ease when you're sitting down.

And tight calves make it difficult for your ankles to move properly when you're walking or running. If your ankles are locked up, it can also immobilize your SI joint.

Our bodies are essentially one continuous web of connective tissue, or fascia, and a kink or tightness in one area of that web is going to affect everything else.

The key to making this stretch successful is the oppositional length tension created by keeping your sitting bones reaching up into the ceiling while simultaneously sinking your heels into the floor.

Be super diligent about not letting your spine, or pelvis curve under when the knees bend and straighten, otherwise you'll lose the effectiveness of the stretch.

Try it out and let me know how it goes in the comments below.

See you in the studio!

Sydney

P.S. – Learn more about the importance of sitting on your sitting bones and an easy fix for some types of back pain here…

A Simple Low-Back Pain Solution