Fitness Fundamentals: Stretching

Stretching—We all know we should do it, but it's just so easy to skip after warming up or at the end of a grueling session at the gym.

We usually think "no pain, no gain" and stretching feels too good to be of any real benefit right?

Wrong!

Stretching can make daily activities so much easier and actually helps to prevent injury during exercise. It is a fundamental way to improve your overall health and fitness and will prepare the muscles for exercise and decrease the chances of injury.

Adding a regular stretching program into your exercise routine will:

• Decrease muscle pain and soreness after exercise

• Improve circulation

• Increase your range of motion

• Improve your posture

• Relieve tension and stress

• Give you a chance to focus your attention for your exercise routine

Stretches are either dynamic—meaning they involve motion—or are static, meaning they involve no motion.

Dynamic stretching affects dynamic flexibility and static stretching affects static flexibility.

There are 7 different types of stretching and they are as follows:

1. Passive stretching

2. Dynamic stretching

3. Active stretching

4. Static stretching

5. Isometric stretching

6. PNF stretching

7. Ballistic stretching

Today's photo is an example of Passive Stretching, which involves assuming a position and holding it with another part of your body, or with the assistance of a partner or some other apparatus. For example, bringing your leg up high and then holding it there with your hand or using a wall to stretch out your chest muscles by putting your arm up against the wall and turning your body away from it. Here I am assuming two separate positions, both are passive stretches. Passive stretching is sometimes also referred to as relaxed stretching and is useful in relieving muscle spasms.

Obviously, check with your doctor first before attempting to stretch the injured muscles. This type of stretching is also very good for cooling down after a workout and helps to reduce post-workout muscle fatigue and soreness.

I will be explaining the other types of stretching in their own individual blogs. In today's post I just wanted to let you know that you should stretch. It's uber important, so get to it!

To being Positively Strong,

Sunny