Lower Back Support Circuit

5 min 30 sec

Hip openers and core stability drills that reinforce a healthy lower back.

Mix mobility and stability to keep your lower back supported through daily life.

Lunge

Lunge

Duration: 01:00

Sink into a kneeling lunge to stretch your hip flexors and lengthen the front of your body.

Difficulty: Beginner

Benefits: Psoas Hips Quadriceps Lower Back Abdomen

Instructions

  • Start kneeling and step one foot forward, planting it flat in front of you.
  • Press your hips forward as you raise both arms overhead.
  • Lift through your chest and reach toward the ceiling while breathing deeply.

Tips

  • Keep the front knee stacked over the ankle for stability.
  • Press the top of your back foot into the floor to engage the rear leg.
  • Stay tall through your torso to avoid dumping into the lower back.

Adjustments

  • Rest your hands on your front thigh if reaching overhead feels intense.
  • Place a towel or cushion under your back knee for comfort.
  • Hold onto a wall or chair for balance when needed.
Reverse Lunge

Reverse Lunge

Duration: 01:00

From a kneeling stance, extend one leg forward to stretch the backside while keeping your balance dialed in.

Difficulty: Beginner

Benefits: Calves Hips Hamstrings Lower Back Glutes

Instructions

  • Begin kneeling with knees hip-width apart and tops of your feet on the floor.
  • Extend one leg forward, pressing the heel into the ground and keeping the leg straight.
  • Hinge at your hips to lower the torso toward the floor, placing hands down for balance.
  • Hold the stretch briefly, then switch legs.

Tips

  • Keep your chest lifted and back long even as you hinge forward.

Adjustments

  • Place a folded blanket under your kneeling knee for comfort.
Pigeon

Pigeon

Duration: 01:00

Settle into pigeon pose to melt tension in your hips, glutes, and lower back.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Benefits: Groin Psoas IT Band Hips Hamstrings Lower Back Glutes

Instructions

  • From tabletop, bring one knee forward behind the same-side wrist and angle the shin toward the opposite hip.
  • Slide the back leg straight behind you as you square your hips toward the floor.
  • Lower your torso over the front leg and rest on your forearms or hands while breathing deeply.

Tips

  • Keep hips level rather than collapsing to one side.

Adjustments

  • Place a folded blanket or block under the bent-leg hip for support.
  • Stay upright with hands on the floor if folding forward feels too intense.
Elbow Plank

Elbow Plank

Duration: 00:30

Hold a solid forearm plank to build core strength and full-body tension from shoulders to toes.

Difficulty: Beginner

Benefits: Triceps Upper Back Obliques Shoulders Chest Lower Back Glutes Abdomen

Instructions

  • Start on all fours, then lower forearms to the floor and step both feet back.
  • Engage your core to create a straight line from head to heels.
  • Distribute weight evenly between forearms and feet and hold with steady breathing.

Tips

  • Stack elbows under shoulders for stability.
  • Avoid letting your hips sag or lift too high.

Adjustments

  • Drop to your knees while keeping a straight line from knees to head if you want a lighter option.
Cat Cow

Cat Cow

Duration: 00:30

Flow through cat and cow to mobilize your spine and melt away stiffness one breath at a time.

Difficulty: Beginner

Benefits: Spine Neck Upper Back Lower Back Abdomen

Instructions

  • Begin on hands and knees with wrists under shoulders and knees under hips.
  • Inhale as you drop your belly, lift your chest, and gaze forward or slightly up.
  • Exhale as you round your spine, draw the belly toward the ceiling, and tuck your chin.
  • Continue gliding between the two shapes in rhythm with your breath.

Tips

  • Move slowly enough that each vertebra gets a moment of attention.

Adjustments

  • Keep your head more neutral if your neck prefers less movement.
Seated Twist

Seated Twist

Duration: 01:00

Twist from a seated position to wring out your spine and open your chest.

Difficulty: Beginner

Benefits: Spine IT Band Upper Back Obliques Hips Chest Lower Back Glutes

Instructions

  • Sit with legs extended, then cross one foot over the opposite thigh and plant it on the floor.
  • Lengthen through your spine and place the opposite elbow outside the lifted knee while the other hand grounds behind you.
  • Twist your torso and turn your gaze over the back shoulder as you breathe deeply.

Tips

  • Grow tall through the crown of your head before deepening the twist.

Adjustments

  • Keep the bottom leg extended or bend it underneath you based on comfort.
  • Hug the knee with your arm instead of using the elbow for a gentler variation.
Knees-to-Chest

Knees-to-Chest

Duration: 00:30

Hug your knees to your chest to release the lower back and gently stretch the hips.

Difficulty: Beginner

Benefits: Hips Hamstrings Lower Back Glutes

Instructions

  • Lie on your back with legs extended and arms by your sides.
  • Bend both knees and draw them toward your chest.
  • Wrap your arms around your shins and hug the knees in, breathing deeply.

Tips

  • Let your head and neck relax on the floor.
  • Keep your lower back gently pressing into the mat.

Adjustments

  • Hold behind your thighs instead of the shins if that feels better for your body.

Finish with a relaxed breath lying on your back before returning to your day.