It can never be stressed enough about the importance of stretching.
We all know we have to do it but we never ever seldom do it.
We just want to get in, do our workout and walk right out the door.
When we do this, we are missing out on so many benefits of stretching like muscle soreness prevention after grueling workouts, painless joint movement and range of motion (ROM) flexibility.
We have to stretch in order to get oxygen to our muscles; even more importantly stretching increase muscle elasticity; plus it loosens up your stiff joints.
When stretching try to avoid bouncing which can actually hurt you.
You should always warm up with 2-10 mins of cardio just till the point of feeling the sweat start; which signals you that you are primed and ready to get it on; whether it is with the weights or zumba or whatever your body craves that day.
You should stretch lightly before your workout, but save the extensive stretching for your post workout.
Over stretching a cold muscle can lead to muscle tears or strain.
This is why it is important to warm up first, work out, cool down to bring your heart rate back down, then stretch when you are done working out.
That's it!!! Stretching is also excellent for sore and achy back relief.
Stretching for sore back relief is most beneficial when done before going bed and upon waking up.
Drinking a glass of water and stretching before bed will aid in back pain relief.
Ironically most people wake up with sore back.
This is due to the pooling of fluid in our lower backs when we sleep.
The best thing to do is; even before you get out of bed, start stretching lightly to dispel some of that fluid and then get up and finish your stretching.
It is possible to get out of bed the wrong way and pull a muscle in your back because of this reason.
This practice will help you relieve and prevent upper and lower back pain.
You will find out that if you practice stretching daily this way, you will be a lot less sore and stiff.
Not to mention the elongation of muscle tissue which gives muscles that fullness appearance we all love.
Plus you will recover fast from your workouts so you can do it again.
If you do not know how to stretch, I've included a couple of videos to show you how.
Ebenezer Grant Certified Personal Trainer
We all know we have to do it but we never ever seldom do it.
We just want to get in, do our workout and walk right out the door.
When we do this, we are missing out on so many benefits of stretching like muscle soreness prevention after grueling workouts, painless joint movement and range of motion (ROM) flexibility.
We have to stretch in order to get oxygen to our muscles; even more importantly stretching increase muscle elasticity; plus it loosens up your stiff joints.
When stretching try to avoid bouncing which can actually hurt you.
You should always warm up with 2-10 mins of cardio just till the point of feeling the sweat start; which signals you that you are primed and ready to get it on; whether it is with the weights or zumba or whatever your body craves that day.
You should stretch lightly before your workout, but save the extensive stretching for your post workout.
Over stretching a cold muscle can lead to muscle tears or strain.
This is why it is important to warm up first, work out, cool down to bring your heart rate back down, then stretch when you are done working out.
That's it!!! Stretching is also excellent for sore and achy back relief.
Stretching for sore back relief is most beneficial when done before going bed and upon waking up.
Drinking a glass of water and stretching before bed will aid in back pain relief.
Ironically most people wake up with sore back.
This is due to the pooling of fluid in our lower backs when we sleep.
The best thing to do is; even before you get out of bed, start stretching lightly to dispel some of that fluid and then get up and finish your stretching.
It is possible to get out of bed the wrong way and pull a muscle in your back because of this reason.
This practice will help you relieve and prevent upper and lower back pain.
You will find out that if you practice stretching daily this way, you will be a lot less sore and stiff.
Not to mention the elongation of muscle tissue which gives muscles that fullness appearance we all love.
Plus you will recover fast from your workouts so you can do it again.
If you do not know how to stretch, I've included a couple of videos to show you how.
Ebenezer Grant Certified Personal Trainer
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