Stretching Exercises – Why Stretching is Under Rated

Stretching Exercises – Why Stretching is Under Rated

Contrary to popular belief, stretching is not just something you should be doing before and after exercise. Stretching exercises should really be incorporated into your everyday routine. But, if you’re anything like me, your bed will be too comfortable when you wake first thing in the morning, and you’re probably too tired when you get home.

The guilt about not stretching enough sneaks in while you’re doing other “relaxation techniques” such as sitting on the couch surfing Pintrest for fitness inspiration, watching Cirque du Soleil adverts on TV, or having a glass of wine while you watch the kids wrestling and twisting themselves into awkward positions. At that point you’re either wishing that you’d be more flexible, or you’re reminiscing about the time that you were!

The worst part is, you don’t even need to participate in exercise for your muscles to tighten into positions which will reduce your range of movement and this makes even basic stretching exercises difficult.

The people who suffer most are those who sit at their desk during the day, hunched over their computer with their legs crossed in one particular direction because “it’s more comfortable that way” – if that’s not a warning sign, I don’t know what is. Generally these people don’t move for the better part of 6 hours or so, give or take lunch or bathroom breaks. These people will also complain of headaches, tight shoulders and just being stiff all over. These Desk Stretches will help during the day.

Stretching does not only assist in increasing flexibility and relieving muscle tension, but also increases blood circulation which means all the healthy nutrients you’re ingesting will reach their desired destination and fulfil their purpose quicker. This increase in circulation also assists in removing the waste by-products from muscle tissue resulting in a much healthier you!

There are some general ground rules to stretching though; otherwise you can injure yourself.

1)      Your muscles should be WARM – which means post-exercise, post-bath, or doing something to get your heart rate up will help you get the most out of your stretch

2)      Hold each stretch for at least 30-60 seconds depending on how tight the area is, and make sure you stretch both sides.

3)      BREATHE. Holding your breath does not help circulate the blood through your body.

4)      Know your limits and don’t push too hard. If you’re in pain, then you will need to ease up a little.

5)      Don’t bounce. It looks fun in those 80’s fitness videos you’ve seen but really, bouncing tears muscles. Tears result in scar tissue and scar tissue tightens the muscle even more – which is a vicious circle.

There are tools you can use to assist in relieving muscle tension, ranging from foam rollers, stretch bands and pressure point relief tools. Some perfect for your desk at work, some ideal for use at home. All these products can be found on our website, and most come with instructions on how to get the best use out of them. Otherwise, visit our Youtube Channel for assistance with all kinds of stretching exercises.