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Wellness I

Complete Wellness · 4-week program · 12 exercises

Printed 9/14/2026

1. Head Retraction

Exercise · Neck · Beginner

Muscles: splenius, semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, longissimus capitis, longissimus cervicis, longus capitis, longus colli

Purpose: Increase neck strength and muscular endurance.

Benefit: Improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.

Head Retraction starting position Head Retraction movement position

Starting position

Begin seated, or standing, looking forward with shoulders back with good neutral posture.

Movement

Activate core muscles. Attempt to draw head directly backwards. Maintain level head position. Do not tilt head up or down. Hold for two seconds. Return to start position and repeat for prescribed repetitions and sets.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
3 10 — 30 sec 3x/week

2. Bilateral External Rotation with Scapular Retraction

Exercise · Mid Back · Beginner

Muscles: teres major, teres minor, shoulders, upper arms, trapezius middle, trapezius lower, rhomboids major, rhomboids minor

Purpose: Increase neck strength and muscular endurance.

Benefit: Improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.

Bilateral External Rotation with Scapular Retraction starting position Bilateral External Rotation with Scapular Retraction movement position

Starting position

Begin standing in good posture. Shoulders should be back and head up. Bend elbows to 90 degrees and keep elbows near sides.

Movement

While maintaining good posture, draw shoulders back, squeezing shoulder blades together. A stretch may be felt in the chest and front of shoulder. Do not allow shoulders to raise upward. Hold for 5–10 seconds. Repeat for prescribed sets and repetitions.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
3 10 — 30 sec 3x/week

3. Levator Scapula Stretch

Stretch · Neck · Beginner

Muscles: levator scapulae, scalenes - anterior, scalenes - middle

Purpose: Correct neck imbalances and restore function.

Benefit: Increases flexibility, improves joint range of motion, and improves circulation.

Levator Scapula Stretch starting position Levator Scapula Stretch movement position

Starting position

Begin seated in a chair. Maintain proper sitting posture on sit-bones (ischial tuberosity) with shoulders back. Place one hand on your thigh and the other behind your back.

Movement

While maintaining good upright posture, rotate head towards the side of your body with the hand behind your back. Then lean head away and down, attempting to lower opposite ear to back of hand on thigh. A gentle stretch should be felt in upper trapezius and neck. Hold for 20–30 seconds. Repeat for prescribed repetitions and sets. Alternate sides as directed.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
1 3 30 sec — 3x/week

4. Hip Bridge with Theraband

Exercise · Hip · Intermediate · Equipment: Theraband

Muscles: gluteus maximus, gluteus medius/minimus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, glutes, hamstrings, thigh (outer)

Purpose: Increase hip strength and muscular endurance.

Benefit: Improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.

Hip Bridge with Theraband starting position Hip Bridge with Theraband movement position

Starting position

Begin lying on floor. Place the resistance band around thighs just above knees. Bend knees with feet flat on floor, arms extended to sides.

Movement

Activate core muscles. Slightly abduct legs while simultaneously performing a hip bridge, attempting to attain shoulder, hip and knee alignment. Slowly lower yourself to start position without bringing knees together. Repeat for prescribed repetitions and sets.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
3 10 — 30 sec 3x/week

5. Modified Side Plank

Exercise · Core · Beginner

Muscles: transverse abdominus, multifidus, abdominal, oblique internal/external, quadratus lumborum

Purpose: Increase core strength and muscular endurance.

Benefit: Improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.

Modified Side Plank starting position Modified Side Plank movement position

Starting position

Begin on your side with knees bent. Place the support forearm directly under shoulder.

Movement

Activate core muscles. Lift hips off the floor and attain a straight, rigid position from your thighs through your upper body. Once in this position, there should be no movement. Maintain core contraction. Hold for recommended duration. Repeat for prescribed repetitions and sets. Perform on opposite side.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
1 3 30 sec 30 sec 3x/week

6. Seated Figure 4 Stretch

Stretch · Hip · Beginner · Equipment: Chair

Muscles: piriformis

Purpose: Correct hip imbalances and restore function.

Benefit: Increases flexibility, improves joint range of motion, and improves circulation.

Seated Figure 4 Stretch starting position Seated Figure 4 Stretch movement position

Starting position

Begin sitting with a straight neutral spine. Cross one leg over other, placing ankle on opposite thigh above knee.

Movement

Slowly lower chest down toward knees trying to keep a flat low back. A stretch in hip of crossed leg should be felt. Hold for 20–30 seconds and repeat for prescribed repetitions. Alternate sides as directed.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
1 3 30 sec — 3x/week

7. Seiza Poser

Stretch · Mid Back · Beginner

Muscles: latissimus dorsi

Purpose: Correct imbalances and restore function.

Benefit: Increases flexibility and improves joint range of motion.

Seiza Poser starting position Seiza Poser movement position

Starting position

Kneel on floor, fold legs underneath thighs while resting buttocks on the heels. One hand contacting the ground in front of the body and one hand behind the head.

Movement

Move the elbow outward and backward, then follow with line of sight and head, turning head to the same direction. Repeat prescribed number of repetitions before switching sides.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
1 3 30 sec — Daily

8. Quadruped Mid Back Mobility

Exercise · Mid Back · Beginner

Muscles: trapezius lower, trapezius middle, deltoid - lateral, deltoid - posterior

Purpose: Correct imbalances and restore function.

Benefit: Increases flexibility and improves joint range of motion.

Quadruped Mid Back Mobility starting position Quadruped Mid Back Mobility movement position

Starting position

Begin in the quadruped position with forearms flat on the floor and knees on floor below hips. Place your left hand on the back of the neck and flex your body towards the floor, bringing the left elbow towards the right hip.

Movement

Slowly lift the left elbow upwards, extending and rotating the body towards the high elbow. Repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions before switching sides.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
3 10 — 30 sec 3x/week

9. Gate Pose

Stretch · Low Back · Beginner

Muscles: latissimus dorsi, oblique internal/external

Purpose: Correct imbalances and restore function.

Benefit: Increases flexibility and improves joint range of motion.

Gate Pose starting position Gate Pose movement position

Starting position

Beginning in a kneeling stance, extend one leg laterally and rest the same side arm on that leg while extending the other arm overhead and leaning toward the side of the extended leg.

Movement

Slowly lean towards the other side, lowering the overhead arm to the floor and bringing the other arm overhead, now leaning towards the opposite side.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
1 3 30 sec — Daily

10. Kneeling Side Stretch

Stretch · Low Back · Intermediate

Muscles: erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, low back

Purpose: Correct low back imbalances and restore function.

Benefit: Increases flexibility, improves joint range of motion, and improves circulation.

Kneeling Side Stretch starting position Kneeling Side Stretch movement position

Starting position

Begin by positioning yourself in a kneeling position with one foot on the floor. Reach arm that is the same side as rear leg toward ceiling.

Movement

Slowly reach to side until gentle stretch is felt. Repeat for recommended repetitions and sets.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
1 3 30 sec — Daily

11. Stability Ball Kneeling Side Stretches with Twist

Stretch · Low Back · Intermediate · Equipment: Stability Ball

Muscles: erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, low back

Purpose: Correct low back imbalances and restore function.

Benefit: Increases flexibility, improves joint range of motion, and improves circulation.

Stability Ball Kneeling Side Stretches with Twist starting position Stability Ball Kneeling Side Stretches with Twist movement position

Starting position

Kneeling on a mat with arms at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions on the ball.

Movement

Slowly rotate the ball towards the floor and repeat to the opposite direction.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
1 3 30 sec — Daily

12. Side-to-Side Lumbo Pelvic Rock

Exercise · Low Back · Beginner · Equipment: Stability Ball

Muscles: multifidus, erector spinae, transverse abdominus, oblique internal/external, low back

Purpose: Increase low back strength and muscular endurance.

Benefit: Improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.

Side-to-Side Lumbo Pelvic Rock starting position Side-to-Side Lumbo Pelvic Rock movement position

Starting position

Begin sitting on stability ball with feet flat on the floor. Sit upright with slight arch in the low back. Cross arms, placing hands on shoulders or extended for balance.

Movement

Activate core muscles. Slowly shift body weight to one side, rolling onto one hip followed by a weight shift and roll to opposite hip. Continue to alternate sides for prescribed repetitions and sets.

If you experience an exacerbation or have a change in medical condition, promptly seek appropriate medical advice.

SetsRepsHoldRestFrequency
3 10 — 30 sec 3x/week
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