There is a number of stretches that really help me, but I will leave that for the pro's to talk to you about.
Try this: Stand with your back next to a wall with your shoulders and hips gently touching it. Now, gently, everything should be done very gently, and slow with purpose.
In your minds eye, visualize that gap between your lower back and the wall, just visualize it. Now, as you take in a long deep breath, feel your back gently being sucked into the wall, like your breath is causing a vacuum drawing the back in toward the wall. Don't press or move your back at all, just pretend it is being sucked gently in. Do this for a few deep breaths, as many as you feel comfortable with.
What is happening is a easy relaxation is settling into the lower back muscles, the deep breaths will calm you down, and that always relaxes muscles, the pretending of the suction, just allows the back to comfortably align itself, and the wall takes the stress off the back just slightly.
