Flexibility
Easy seated reach
Time or repetitions. A few easy breaths in a comfortable reach.
- Sit tall.
- Reach one arm up only as far as is comfortable.
- Lower it and switch sides.
Beginner change. Reach forward to a tabletop instead of upward.
Another way. Skip the arms and only sit and breathe.
Safety. Do not force a stretch. A longer or painful reach is not better.
Your own experience. A comfortable range of motion fits CDC’s “abilities and conditions” wording. NIMH lists relaxation as a coping option. The reach itself is an example, not a clinical stretch prescription.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Older Adult Activity: An Overview Updated 2025-12-04. Checked 2026-11-03.
- National Institute of Mental Health: I'm So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet No update date was listed. Checked 2026-11-03.