This is a subject very close to my heart. If I spoke with 10 people, only 2 of them actually would engage in some sort of stretching regime. They generally stretch either due to injury, they may have their own post stretch workout or from participating in a class.
Standing Outside Leg Waist and Back Stretch
Before we talk about why to stretch here is a multiple choice, let’s see if you can get it right!
Which of the following situations would you need to stretch?
a. I Just did a 6 mile run
b. Just come home from work, been sitting at a desk all day
c. Been on my feet all day working.
d. Been away on holiday, lying on a beach all day and doing absolutely nothing.
e. Just did a massive workout with weights and sprints.
If you chose both A and E then you would be like most people because the majority believe that unless you do some physical exertion you don’t need to stretch. In their eyes stretching comes hand in hand with exercise. But unfortunately it is not the correct answer!
If you chose all of the above, then well done! We use our bodies every day, muscles work as stabilisers, keeping up our skeletal frame, moving us, keeping us still. Overuse of the same muscles day in and out, they become tight, so therefore need stretching. The person that sits at a desk all day long, will be tight in their hip flexors, tight in their pectorals, have a weak back, tight hamstrings and many more, from sitting in this prolonged position. So why does this person not stretch? Because they feel they are not exercising and therefore it’s of no benefit to them. This is a classic client of mine. They end up with injuries because of tightness. Which at first is hard to grasp but once explained in clinic what has happened, then a light bulb goes off and then a stretching regime is born!
So stretching is not just for the exercisers, it has many benefits:
- Improves your flexibility
- Improves your posture
- Improves any muscular or joint pain you may be getting
- Increases circulation in the body
- Post exercise stretching helps relax the muscle as it has shortened during training so we want to re lengthen it to prevent injuries.
- Last but not least it actually makes you feel better too!
I love stretching. I include it with exercise and also without. It allows me to understand how my body is feeling so when I do exercise I can pay particular attention to areas that are weaker and those that are tight, to not train so hard!
So if you are feeling inspired and not sure how to stretch. Please visit the “Stretching Page” on the website. You will find loads of different types of stretches, some are lying down, some are sitting, it can be done anywhere!! Also information for how long to hold the stretch and most of all where to feel it, will be found there too.
Now the secret is out, what are you waiting for?! Go stretch!
Sara
