Our bodies are constantly put through strain each and every day through normal lifting and bending- when moving day comes along it can seem daunting due to the physicality of it. Injuring yourself during a move is the last thing you want during an already stressful time that’s likely been on your calendar for weeks. To reduce your risk of injury, take time to stretch and do a few exercises before your move.
We’ve compiled a list of key stretches and moves to try in the hope they make your move easier throughout the day.
- Wrists and Ankles
It doesn’t seem like much, but just this act of giving your ankles and wrists a few rolls in one direction, and then the same number of rolls in the opposite direction can really prep these areas for the day. Stretch your wrists by pulling them down towards your inner arm and then up towards your outer arm. You’ll likely be carrying things frequently, and sometimes at odd angles- preparing with this stretch can help.
- Shoulders and Back
After rolling your ankles and wrists, go ahead and roll your shoulders as well. After these, tuck your shoulders all the way to your ears and then push them back down to give a good stretch across your upper back. While you don’t want to be lifting using your upper back, sometimes oddly shaped items require us to use these muscles as well. Next, put one arm straight out in front of you and pull it straight across your chest with your other arm to stretch a different part of your shoulder- then do the same with the other arm. Once that’s feeling better, lace your fingers behind your back to lock you hands and bring your arms up behind you- just to what feels good. Enjoy a nice stretch there as well.
Tip: If you’d like, go ahead and stretch your arms over head -as far as you can, with fingers apart- for an excellent full body stretch. If that’s not enough, go into a yoga style child’s pose on a mat.
- Legs and Glutes
If you’re body isn’t used to squats and lunges, prep yourself for the day by doing a few without any weight. This will allow you to see how your body moves without the weight you’ll be carrying, and show you your limitations for how far you can safely reach and bend for the day. Try a full bend, reaching towards the ground to stretch your hamstrings- but also be sure that this is not how you are picking things up.
Tip: If you’ll be moving up and down stairs- do a few calves raises to wake them up for the day!
Moving is hard work! Give your body grace in knowing that it’s about to have a full day, rather than going straight into it. This can cause injuries or a completely worn out body.
If it’s possible to do these stretches and exercises each day for a few weeks before your move, then great! But if your move has come on suddenly, or you’ve been too busy to think about it- taking the time to do them before the move is better than foregoing stretching at all. Give your body grace in knowing that it’s about to have a full day, rather than going straight into it. This can cause injuries or a completely worn out body.