Do you know how and why and when to stretch?
According to the Mayo Clinic (2014), stretching helps you improve athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury.
It also feels really good.
A few tips:
- Stretch warm muscles - I stretch after every fitness routine or run and also in the late afternoon or evening when I've been moving throughout the day and my muscles are already warmed up.
- Stretch for tension, not pain - I love stretching. It feels good. It shouldn't hurt. It's not a competition. Don't stretch to the point of pain. Stretch to the point of tension. That's how you gradually increase flexibility.
- Stretch specific to your activity - When I run, I stretch my calves, quads, and hamstrings. Our monthly challenge group is doing an arm challenge this month. So my focus is stretching my arms and rotator cuffs.
- Stretch regularly - Keep doing it and you will see increased flexibility and less muscle pain.
- Stretch fluidly - Consider trying gentle movement activities like yoga or Tai Cheng as part of your stretching. (I haven't mentioned yoga in a few posts, so you knew it was coming.)
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