Session 16

Some soreness during exercise is normal. Sharp, escalating pain is not.

1. 

   Exercise 1

   Gentle mid-range cat-cow

   1 × 5-8 reps

   Favour the flexion (cat) side, mid-range. No cow/extension

   How to do it

   1. 1Start on your hands and knees with your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
   2. 2Gently round your back up toward the ceiling (like an angry cat), staying in a comfortable mid-range rather than pushing into strong end-range. Only extend until you feel mild stiffening and then do not pass that range.
   3. 3Then slowly let your back sag slightly toward the floor (cow position), again staying in a mild, comfortable range.
   4. 4Move smoothly between these two positions for the prescribed number of repetitions, keeping your breathing relaxed and easy.
   5. 5Slow and controlled. Do not extend and arch aggressively and do not continue through painful motion.

   Why this exercise

   Motion can be medicine. Mid-range cat-cow helps reduce stiffness and reintroduce comfortable movement without cranking into end-range, which is where a lot of people get into trouble. This gentle exercise is intended to decrease stiffness and liberate motion - not to test how far you can round your back in each direction. In fact, that's the opposite of what we want to do. This exercise should be performed carefully and not immediately after waking up. Performing this exercise to the 'end range' in either flexion or extension can elicit pain for those suffering from back pain.

2. 

   Exercise 2

   Bird Dog

   2 × 3/side, holds building toward 5s

   Neutral spine: do NOT sag into extension

   How to do it

   1. 1Start on hands and knees with your knees directly below your hips and hands below shoulders.
   2. 2Breathe in and brace your core, then slowly extend one arm forward and the opposite leg back without letting your low back sag or twist (the raised arm and leg should be parallel with the floor). Hold for the prescribed time in the extended position, then return and switch sides.

   Why this exercise

   Life is basically 'keep your trunk stable while a limb does something.' Bird dogs trains that skill. Another favourite of Dr. Stuart McGill's and the final exercise of his 'big 3'.

   Make it easier

   • Arm-only reach
   • Leg-only reach (toe slide back)
   • Shorter holds

   Make it harder

   • Longer holds and more repetitions
   • Slower tempo (3-5 seconds out, 3-5 back)
   • Increase the width of your hands and knees on the floor (the width of your base)
3. 

   Exercise 3

   Curl-up

   2 × 5 reps × 5s hold

   How to do it

   1. 1Lie on your back with one knee bent and the other leg straight, hands gently under your low back to keep a small natural arch.
   2. 2Breathe in to expand your belly and brace your core lightly as if someone is about to poke your belly, then lift your head, shoulders, and upper back just a few centimetres off the floor without curling all the way up.
   3. 3Hold the curl-up for the prescribed time, then slowly lower and repeat as directed.

   Why this exercise

   This modified curl-up was popularized by Dr. Stuart McGill. It teaches you to brace and create support around your low back while the hands tucked underneath stop your spine from flexing.

   Make it easier

   • Shorten the range of your curl-up (barely lift your shoulders from the floor)
   • Shorter holds/fewer reps
   • Rest longer between reps

   Make it harder

   • Longer holds
   • Increase the range of motion of your curl-up (lift shoulders a little further) without performing a full sit-up
   • Graduate to the front plank (start on your knees if needed)
4. 

   Exercise 4

   Side Plank (from knees)

   2 holds/side × 8-10s

   How to do it

   1. 1Lie on your side with knees bent, elbow under your shoulder, and body in a straight line from knees to shoulders.
   2. 2Lightly brace, then lift your hips so your body forms a straight line; hold for the prescribed time, breathing steadily, then lower with control and repeat on both sides.

   Why this exercise

   Your spine likes being supported from all sides. Side planks test your core from a new angle and build strength in your quadratus lumborum muscles and your obliques. From your knees is the bottom rung, with a shorter lever to start on.

   Make it easier

   • Shorter holds
   • Do it with your back against a wall for stability

   Make it harder

   • Longer holds
   • Graduate to side plank from your feet (a longer lever)
5. 

   Exercise 5

   Seated good morning

   2 × 10

   Arms crossed on chest: fuller, controlled range, flat back. Stop at neutral. No top hyperextension

   How to do it

   1. 1Sit tall on a flat bench or the edge of a firm chair with your feet wide apart and knees bent so that your heels are roughly beneath your knees.
   2. 2Breathe in and brace your core.
   3. 3Hinge forward slowly while maintaining your brace and a neutral spine.
   4. 4Fight to keep a straight back and stop the movement when you feel that your back may begin to round.
   5. 5Drive down through your feet and push your hips forward into the bench to return to the starting position.

   Why this exercise

   A seated position increases stability and lets you build confidence with hinging at the hips before you try it standing. The extra stability means 100% of your attention can go to moving through the hips with a locked, neutral spine.

   Make it easier

   • Micro-hinge: lean only as far as stays comfortable, build over time
   • Rest your hands on your thighs to support your torso
   • Drop down a rung of the lever ladder

   Make it harder

   • Climb the lever ladder (longer lever = harder): (1) hands on thighs
   • Arms crossed on your chest
   • Hands behind your head (do not push your chin down)
   • Hug a weighted object to your chest (a book, water jug, or filled bag)
   • Increase the depth of the hinge (back must not round into flexion)
6. 

   Exercise 6

   Bodyweight hip hinge (hands on thighs)

   2 × 10

   How to do it

   1. 1Stand with your feet about hip-width apart and knees slightly bent.
   2. 2Place your hands lightly on the tops of your thighs and gently brace your core.
   3. 3Push your hips back behind you slowly and slide your hands down your thighs for support. Imagine you are closing a car door with your butt, letting your chest tip forward while keeping your back straight.
   4. 4Stop when you feel a stretch in your hamstrings or if you notice your back beginning to round, then return to standing by driving your hips forward and straightening your legs.

   Why this exercise

   This is a skill drill, not a workout. It teaches you how to bend using hips and legs while keeping your trunk stable - basically the foundation for picking things up without relying on rounding your spine into flexion.

   Make it easier

   • Smaller hinge (hands don't slide far)
   • Practice against a wall (hips tap wall)

   Make it harder

   • Deeper hinge while staying neutral (spine)
   • Remove hand support gradually
   • Hold a light object, once the pattern is automatic
7. 

   Exercise 7

   Glute bridge (double-leg)

   2 × 8 per side

   Glute bridge → progress to single-leg once the double-leg version is easy. Neutral top: no hyperextension

   How to do it

   1. 1Lie on your back with both knees bent and feet flat on the floor, about hip-width apart.
   2. 2Gently brace your core and squeeze your glutes, then push through your heels to lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees.
   3. 3Pause briefly at the top, and then lower your hips back down with control and repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions.
   4. 4If this motion is too easy, then perform with a single leg.

   Why this exercise

   A strong back is best complemented by strong hips and legs. Glute bridges train hip extension, so your lower back can remain stable as your glutes and legs do the heavy lifting.

   Make it easier

   • No pause at the top
   • Bring your feet a bit closer to your bum

   Make it harder

   • Add a 2-3 second pause at the top
   • Single-leg glute bridge
   • Hip thrust
   • Single-leg hip thrust
   • Add resistance by placing a weight on your pelvis
8. 

   Exercise 8

   Step-ups

   2 × 8/side

   How to do it

   1. 1Stand facing a stable low step or platform with your feet about hip-width apart.
   2. 2Place one foot firmly on the raised surface, lean your body slightly forward over that leg, and gently brace your core.
   3. 3Push through the heel of the front foot to straighten that leg and bring your body up onto the step.
   4. 4Slowly lower back down with control, lightly tapping the other foot to the floor before repeating for the prescribed repetitions on each leg.
   5. 5Stairs are a great location for this as they often have railings for additional balance support.

   Why this exercise

   Step-ups are simple, functional leg strength with built-in balance work. Great for building walking/stairs capacity and easing back into 'real life strength' without needing a gym setup.

   Make it easier

   • Lower step
   • Hold a railing or fingertip support
   • Reduce reps and go slower

   Make it harder

   • Higher step/platform
   • Add load by holding a weight in one hand
   • Slow eccentric (3-4 seconds down) if your next-day response behaves
9. 

   Exercise 9

   Dead bug

   2 × 5/side

   Primary core drill: heel slides, slide the heel out keeping the low back flat

   How to do it

   1. 1Lie on your back with your arms reaching straight up toward the ceiling and your hips and knees bent to 90 degrees, so your shins are parallel to the floor.
   2. 2Gently flatten your low back toward the floor and brace your core, holding that contact the whole time.
   3. 3Slowly lower one arm overhead and the opposite leg toward the floor, going only as far as you can while keeping your low back flat.
   4. 4Return to the start with control and repeat on the other side, breathing steadily and moving slowly throughout.

   Why this exercise

   The dead bug trains your core to lock your spine in place while your arms and legs move, without loading your back. It is the anti-arch counterpart to the bird dog.

   Make it easier

   • Move only the legs, or only the arms
   • Shorten the range (lower the limb part-way)
   • Fewer reps

   Make it harder

   • Standard dead bug (lower one arm and the opposite leg, then return)
   • Same movement with a 3-second pause at full extension before returning
   • More reps once your low back stays flat the whole set
10. 

    Exercise 10

    Chin tucks (sitting or standing)

    2 × 8 reps, 8s hold

    How to do it

    1. 1Sit or stand tall with your shoulders relaxed and your eyes looking straight ahead.
    2. 2Gently draw your chin straight back as if making a "double chin," keeping your head level (do not tilt up or down).
    3. 3You should feel a mild stretch or activation at the base of your skull and the front of your neck, not pain.
    4. 4Hold briefly for the prescribed time, then relax and repeat for the recommended repetitions.

    Why this exercise

    Modern life is basically a chin-forward endurance sport. We are sitting at desks, staring at screens...then we go home and stare at more screens while slouching on the couch. Chin tucks help retrain neck flexors while stretching the posterior extensors. This helps correct a forward neck posture that most of us are guilty of. Get ready to show your double chin.

    Make it easier

    • Smaller movement (gentle glide back)
    • Shorter holds
    • Do it lying down (often easier to feel correctly)

    Make it harder

    • Longer holds / more reps
    • Add it into posture breaks (set-based habit)