Author: Kari Jackson

Stretching is key to maintaining healthy and strong muscles. There are many reasons to stretch, and the great thing is that it doesn’t require a huge time commitment. Even just five minutes a day can lead to improved muscle health. Let’s dive into the benefits and how you can start your journey to becoming a stretching pro!

Decreased risk of injury

The most widely known benefit of stretching is that it helps to prevent injuries. Stretching is a great way to warm up your muscles and make sure to loosen any tightness. Although there are different opinions on when to stretch, most say to stretch after light activity so your muscles are activated. By going on a low intensity five-minute walk, your muscles will warm up and be ready for stretching. Stretching after a workout is also beneficial because it will help to wind down after physical activity.

Help maintain healthy joints

Stretching helps keep your joints healthy because it improves the range of motion. By maintaining a good range of motion, this ensures that the joints are kept active and it keeps the fluid pumping within them. The phrase “if you don’t use it you lose it” comes into play here. If you don’t use your joints to their full ability, over time they will start to deteriorate, which will ultimately cause arthritis. By keeping the joints stretched and moving, it will decrease the risk of joint pain.

Improved circulation

Blood is constantly pumping through our bodies, but stretching helps to target our muscles directly. By stretching, it helps to bring blood into our muscles, which then aids in better oxygen flow and getting rid of metabolic waste. It also helps to relax the blood vessels and this causes an improvement in circulation. There are new studies that show stretching could even help long term circulatory health and potentially lower blood pressure.

Better posture

In the age of technology, it is easy to let poor posture become a regular in our lives. Sitting at a desk or looking at a phone can make it easy for proper posture to take the back burner. Posture is important and stretching can help with proper form. Sitting for prolonged periods of time causes muscle tightness and strains. If you don’t work this tightness out, it will continue to worsen over time. By taking a few minutes to stretch, it can help with better alignment and posture.

How to stretch

Everyone has a different ability on how far they can stretch. The main goal of stretching is to get your muscles warmed up, so do what feels good for you. Maintaining equal flexibility on both sides is important so make sure to concentrate on creating symmetry. Also, focus on the muscle groups that you will be utilizing within your workout. Once you have a few stretches down, make sure to hold the pose and try not to bounce or create quick movements. Jerky movements while stretching could do more harm than good, so go slow and keep it fluid. There shouldn’t be any pain when stretching. Tension within the muscles is the goal, so if it hurts, tone it down a bit. Overall, do what feels good for you and stay consistent. Treating your body with kindness is a great step to a happy and healthy life!

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