Strength and Flexibility - How to Stretch
Does your body ever feel like a brittle plastic bottle, ready to break with any movement? Are you fearful of falling? If you answered yes or even maybe to either of these questions I have help for you.
Flexibility is the key to getting your body more mobile and rejuvenated.
Stretching attains flexibility; it is often overlooked but plays a vital role in keeping muscles and joints strong and pliable.
Luckily stretching for 10 to 15 minutes a day will help you regain your range of motion, make joints move easier and make you feel youthful and agile.
It will increase your physical fitness level, enable you to learn and do skilled moves more easily and cut the risk of injury to joints, muscles and tendons.
Benefits of Stretching: · Stretching increases flexibility: tasks such as bending to tie your shoes, lifting an item or hurrying may be very difficult if you are not flexible.
· Stretching improves range of motion: Range of motion helps you keep your balance, keeps you mobile, and helps to prevent falls, especially as you age.
· Stretching can relieve stress: It relaxes the tense muscles that often go with stress, spend a few minutes a day doing slow deliberate stretches to manage stress.
· Stretching avoids muscle knots: Daily activities can cause knots and tightness of your muscles.
· Stretching improves your posture.
· Stretching improves circulation: increased blood flow to your muscles is a good thing.
· Stretches should always be done slowly and deliberately.
How Should Stretching be done? 1.
Warm up first: stretching cold muscles could result in injury.
Walk while gently pumping your arms or do a low intensity exercise for 10 minutes.
The Best time to stretch is after exercising when your muscles are warm and more capable of stretching.
2.
Take your time:Pace Yourself: It takes time to lengthen tissues.
Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds, then repeat the movement on the opposite side; do each stretch 3 or 4 times.
3.
DON'T BOUNCE! Bouncing to increase your stretch causes small tears in your muscles.
Tears leave scar tissue, which result in tightened muscles making you less flexible and subject to pain.
4.
Focus on pain-free stretches: You need to expect tension when you are stretching but if it hurts you've gone too far.
Back off until the pain is gone and then hold the stretch.
5.
Breathe freely: Don't hold your breath, your muscles need the oxygen that breathing provides.
You should stretch when you exercise; at least 3 times each week to support flexibility.
Although it may take time to see results; stretching is very helpful to maintaining and even regaining mobility.
Stretching can be done while seated if necessary.
Flexibility is the key to getting your body more mobile and rejuvenated.
Stretching attains flexibility; it is often overlooked but plays a vital role in keeping muscles and joints strong and pliable.
Luckily stretching for 10 to 15 minutes a day will help you regain your range of motion, make joints move easier and make you feel youthful and agile.
It will increase your physical fitness level, enable you to learn and do skilled moves more easily and cut the risk of injury to joints, muscles and tendons.
Benefits of Stretching: · Stretching increases flexibility: tasks such as bending to tie your shoes, lifting an item or hurrying may be very difficult if you are not flexible.
· Stretching improves range of motion: Range of motion helps you keep your balance, keeps you mobile, and helps to prevent falls, especially as you age.
· Stretching can relieve stress: It relaxes the tense muscles that often go with stress, spend a few minutes a day doing slow deliberate stretches to manage stress.
· Stretching avoids muscle knots: Daily activities can cause knots and tightness of your muscles.
· Stretching improves your posture.
· Stretching improves circulation: increased blood flow to your muscles is a good thing.
· Stretches should always be done slowly and deliberately.
How Should Stretching be done? 1.
Warm up first: stretching cold muscles could result in injury.
Walk while gently pumping your arms or do a low intensity exercise for 10 minutes.
The Best time to stretch is after exercising when your muscles are warm and more capable of stretching.
2.
Take your time:Pace Yourself: It takes time to lengthen tissues.
Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds, then repeat the movement on the opposite side; do each stretch 3 or 4 times.
3.
DON'T BOUNCE! Bouncing to increase your stretch causes small tears in your muscles.
Tears leave scar tissue, which result in tightened muscles making you less flexible and subject to pain.
4.
Focus on pain-free stretches: You need to expect tension when you are stretching but if it hurts you've gone too far.
Back off until the pain is gone and then hold the stretch.
5.
Breathe freely: Don't hold your breath, your muscles need the oxygen that breathing provides.
You should stretch when you exercise; at least 3 times each week to support flexibility.
Although it may take time to see results; stretching is very helpful to maintaining and even regaining mobility.
Stretching can be done while seated if necessary.
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