The body is flexible and is supposed to be flexible. You must be able to bend and reach that something you dropped on the floor. You must be able to zip the back of your favorite dress on your own. And you must be able to reach that book you need to read at the top shelf. All without hurting yourself!
These are simple activities however, if there are difficulties in doing such simple motions, then you have to stretch your limits. You already need a stretching program and it’s important to keep it fun.
What Is Stretching?
You’ve done it before, in fact you’ve probably done it today already. It’s so easy to do that it’s almost as automatic as breathing and just about as important. It’s simply the act of extending your body, or a part of it, to it’s full length.
How Does One Stretch?
Stretching can be done at almost any time by everyone, no matter your age. Stretching should be a part of your every day routine. Before a sports event, exercising, even just to make yourself feel better, stretching can be done quickly and effectively.
Stretching exercises can also be done while training. Actually, stretching is an essential part of any training or sport. It must be done first before anything else. Stretching the body and the limbs is a good preparation for a more rigorous activity.
Most athletes would do the sit and reach, wherein they position on the floor, extend their legs and reach the tip of their foot with the tip of their hand. Actually, most trainers actually require their athletes to really do the stretching before playing.
There is actually an ideal length of time in stretching which is 10 minutes. This will give the body enough opportunity to move and flex the muscles, thus preparing it for more complicated and strenuous movements.
Experts however would frown upon going way beyond 10 minutes. Stretching the exercise to 30 minutes or more will already wear out the body. This will not be favorable if one is preparing for a game.
Can’t you spare ten minutes a day to make your body feel better? Spend these moments with your child and you’ll see them enjoy gym and sports much more than ever before. Just 10 minutes a day can help save your child from become another notch in the childhood obesity stats.
What Are the Benefits of Stretching?
1. Increase the Range of Movement
As you constantly do the stretching exercises, the length of your muscles and tendons are also increased. This will help in increasing the range of your movement. Thus, the limbs and joints will be able to move, way before an injury can take place. You are definitely physically fit.
2. Increased Ability to Perform Skills
When you have a wide range of movement, the more you will be able to do more things. For example, you can jump high without feeling any pain when you land back on the floor. This will also help you start a new sport or improve more if you are in one. Stretching in this aspect also allows you to have a more active lifestyle.
3. Injury Prevention
One can prevent injury to joints, tendons and muscles with stretching. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. This will help in a faster recovery and decreased soreness. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured.
4. Reduce Muscle Tension
If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretches, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.
5. Enhance Energy
Being able to move more will also give you more energy. Stretching will also help enhance your awareness, like knowing that you have a body that is capable of doing many things. As such, you are going to be more driven to move rather than sulk in the corner.
6. Reduces Cholesterol
Research also shows that doing prolonged stretching exercises, like yoga, will help reduce the cholesterol in the body. This of course must be done with a healthy diet at hand. This could prevent, and even reverse, the hardening of the arteries, allowing you to avoid coronary diseases.
Incorporate stretching in your everyday lifestyle. It has benefits you can not say no to. It also does not require much. It can be your usual activities, bending and flexing every now and then. After all, your fitness is everything so do what it takes to keep the body healthy.
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