How To Use Stretching To Strengthen Lower Belly

How To Use Stretching To Strengthen Your Lower Belly!

If you are thinking that stretching is separate from strengthening, give this class a try. Yes…we definitely do some somatic relaxing stretches, but then I interweave some moves that will also really strengthen (and tone!!) your lower belly muscles. You’ll notice that we do some of our favorite Gentle Somatic Yoga moves like “arch/flatten and curl” but with a different focus so make sure to listen to my cueing and notice how that can make a difference in how you experience those moves.

This class is best done from the start all the way through to really get the full benefit of all the flows. But I’ve also included the timestamps for this video in case you want to jump around.

00:00 Introduction and understanding the focus for the class

00:28 roll down and begin full body stretch

01:40 body scan to notice where you are starting from

02:44 started warming up our lower back and belly with an arch and flatten move using our breath to move with the body

09:03 begin working on those lower belly muscles with an added bent leg lifts. Lower belly "walking".

12:56 release with side to side hip releases.

13:26 Diagonal cross elbow to opposite knee to release cross patterns in the front of the torso

16:26 Roll to your sides for side muscle strengthening flow (I love this flow)

24:32 grab a block/book and come to seated for some serious lower belly work

26:51 Now let's release those tight hip coming into a forward fold

28:33 bring your legs out in front for some lower leg and foot stretch and strengthening

31:00 test and then do my "famous" hamstring releases. So good!!

33:54 Let's put the block back between our knees and do the lower belly strengthening one more time...YES YOU CAN!

35:50 onto our belly for a back extension which is always welcome after all the forward flexion

39:19 up into a cat/cow and then shift your hips back into a "child's pose"

39:58 You have the option of doing a deep hip/inner groin stretch here. Really support yourself with props (pillows...) and only go to where you feel some stretch but it's not painful.

42:48 finish with a last lower belly strengthening move on our back

45:19 and finish!

I hope you enjoy this class and come back and do it often. Love to hear your experience with it. Make sure to comment either below or on youtube.

xoxox

Renee