Summarize the following:
To do a neck tilt, bend your head to the left as far as you can, then hold that position for 5 seconds. Repeat this on the right side. Each time, try to stretch your head a little bit father. Avoid hunching your shoulders—try to keep them relaxed. You can also bend your head forward and backward, too, if you feel tension in those areas. Your arms are a huge part of cheerleading, as everything you do requires them to help propel and balance your body. Do 10 reps of side arm raises by raising your arms so they’re level with your shoulder; hold the pose for 5 seconds before releasing. Do 10 reps of forward and backward arm rotations to loosen up your arms and shoulders. Simply put your arms out to the side and move them in a large circle, rotating your shoulders. The more flexible you get, the wider you’ll be able to make your circles. If you can only do small circles at the beginning comfortably, that’s okay! Keep working on it and track your progress to see how your abilities change over time. While either standing or sitting, pull one arm across your chest. Put the opposing hand against your elbow and pull your arm further across the chest to open up your shoulders. You should feel the pull through your back, shoulder, and tricep. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds, and repeat the movement 5 to 6 times on each arm. This move is also called the cross-body shoulder stretch. Raise one arm over your head and bend your arm backward. With the opposite hand, press your elbow back to open up your shoulders and stretch your arms. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds, and repeat 5 to 6 times on each arm. Remember to breath through each stretch. Avoid holding your breath, and try to breathe in deep from your belly. Sit on the floor with your feet flat against the floor and your knees bent in front of you. Grasp your hands together behind your back, and straighten your arms out. Squeeze your shoulder blades while keeping your arms extended, and hold this pose for 10 seconds before releasing your hands. Repeat this movement 5 to 6 times. You use your back muscles so much in cheerleading, so it’s not surprising that they might get a little tight. That tightness can make it harder to perform the moves you need to do.
Complete 10 reps of neck tilts to prevent straining your neck muscles. Loosen up your arms with side arm raises and arm rotations. Do the L-arm stretch to open up your shoulders and loosen your triceps. Work on the overhead tricep stretch to loosen your back and shoulders. Use the seated shoulder squeeze to relieve back tension.