Everyone should include stretching in their workouts. In Houston, TX, we incorporate stretching into the workouts to help people stay flexible. Staying flexible is vital to staying fit. It protects the muscles from injury when doing everyday tasks. Stretching helps increase the range of motion, allowing easier movement. It reduces the pain caused by tight muscles. It improves posture and balance, helps boost strength-building, and improves overall performance.
There are many types of stretching.
The two best-known types of stretching are dynamic stretching and static stretching. Dynamic stretching involves movement. It helps warm the muscles before doing an activity. The activity could be running, softball, weightlifting, or other fitness challenge. Dynamic stretching is active. You move your joints and muscles in a way similar to your impending exercise. Static stretching is a stretch-and-hold style exercise. Squats to heel rise and jumping jacks are examples of dynamic stretches. The cobra pose—aka core stretch—and head-to-knee forward bend are examples of static stretching.
Both dynamic and static stretching improve flexibility.
Dynamic stretching helps warm the muscles and increases the range of motion. You contract your muscles throughout the entire movement. It increases circulation to increase the range of motion to relieve stiffness. You do static stretches after your muscles are warmed. They’re more flexible and loose. That looseness allows you to extend your muscle’s range of motion which increases joint and muscle flexibility.
Stretching helps you stay fit even when you’re not exercising.
If you work at a desk or spend long periods sitting idle, stretching can help you stay fitter. Getting up and stretching increases the oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. It can loosen muscles and improve your posture. Poor posture not only reduces flexibility, it also can cause breathing difficulties, digestive issues, TMJ, and incontinence.
- Yoga stretches can relieve back pain. Two yoga poses, the cat and the cow, combine to improve flexibility. Both poses start on the hands and knees. The cat pose stretches the muscles as you lower your head and arch your back. Drop your back and raise your head for the cow pose.
- Side stretches and twists can relieve back pain, improve flexibility, build core strength, and whittle your waist. Stretch your arms out perpendicular to the body and twist your upper body so your left hand points in front of you. Twist the opposite way until your hand points behind you.
- Relax your back and improve flexibility with a simple stretch. Let your hands dangle at your side and bend over, allowing your arms to drop forward with your fingers toward the ground. Bend as far forward as possible.
- Stretching prepares your heart for more strenuous exercise. Besides increasing blood flow to the muscles, it increases blood flow to the heart and heart rate. It increases blood pressure slowly rather than spiking it.
For more information, contact us today at Reggie C. Fitness