20-Minute Tension Tamer

Mental and physical stress go hand in hand. In 20 minutes, this routine will help you nix both.

Tension is a fact of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to just live with it.

This 20-minute routine from SilverSneakers Master Trainer Sharlyn Green is all about loosening tight muscles and wringing out the stress that can build up in our bodies. The result: You’ll activate your body’s parasympathetic rest-and-digest system, get rid of shoulder knots, stretch tight hamstrings, and learn to embrace exercise like the wonderful indulgence it can be.

How the 20-Minute Tension Tamer Works

Clear some open floor space. If you’d like support during any of the exercises, set up near a wall or have a sturdy chair nearby. It’s also helpful to have water, and you should feel free to sip as you need.

All you need to do is press play and follow along.

To keep tabs on your effort, use a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the hardest. You can ramp up or dial down as you need, but remember that the goal of this workout is to relax. As a general rule, don’t push harder than a 3 or 4. The exercises should feel good and restorative, not stressful or physically challenging. As you move, keep breathing, and prioritize good form.

As always, safety is key. The exercises here may be different or more advanced than those you’ll experience in a SilverSneakers class. If you have a chronic condition, an injury, or balance issues, talk to your doctor about how you can exercise safely.

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