You may not be able to scale tall buildings with that belly of yours (could you ever?) but you can still stretch like Spiderman. In pregnancy, we are generally less active and experience a shift in our posture due to the growth of our bellies, which can tighten the hip flexors and contribute to back pain. The Spiderman Stretch is a great move to lengthen the hip flexors on the front of your hips and upper thighs. Begin with feet together. Step one foot back and bend front knee to lower your back knee as close to the ground as possible, placing hands on the inside of your front foot. Keep chest lifted and breathe deeply. Hold 30-40 seconds. Step carefully forward and switch feet. Repeat if desired. The Spiderman Stretch is a great addition to any walking, cycling or jogging warm up or cool down.
~ Dara Duff-Bergeron is a veteran fitness trainer and a specialist in women’s health and fitness. With a decade under her belt, Dara now shares her exceptional experience and down-to-earth philosophy through Fit Family (fitfamily.ca) personal training and Belly Bootcamp (http://www.bellybootcamp.ca) pre- and post-natal fitness. Dara is mommy of one with another on the way, and lives in Toronto with her own little fit family.
