It is quite easy to get carried away when training. I can personally recall how many times I forgot to stretch before and after my workout sessions. Perhaps this is because of the haste to get down to business and build muscles, or lose fat, whichever you intend to do.
However, stretching is important for various reasons. For one, it leaves you less prone to injuries, which is the last thing you want to hinder your training goal. Stretching is not just something that should be done before or after training, but even when you wake up, on break at the office or even at class.
We’re constantly doing activities that can stiffen up our muscles and give us cramps or injuries. Stretching is important and this article tells you 6 reasons why.
#1. It helps you keep calm: Stretching helps your muscles relax, and when your muscles are relaxed, you are also bound to feel relaxed. That is the point behind yoga. The constant contracting and lengthening of the muscles helps you keep calm.
So, “Keep calm” and stretch.
#2. Prepares the body for strain: You are going to strain your muscles when you train and invariably feel pain. You may have heard or seen this saying before, “no pain, no gain”. Stretching helps prepare you for this by allowing the body to warm up and promote blood flow to the muscles.
When this happens, oxygen supply is increased to the body including nutrients to keep the body going during the workout.
#3. Builds and develops muscle: If your desire is to lift weights, develop a stunning abdominal core, or the like, you should also desire to stretch your muscles. Stretching frees up your muscles and allows you to have more fluid and correct motions.
Have you ever been lifting weights and noticed stiffness? Or un-coordinated motions? This can be highly attributed to not stretching before a workout.
#4. Reduces risk of injury: Previously mentioned at the beginning of the article. Stretching ensures that the body is mobile and flexible, ready to contract and expand. And when your muscles are flexible, they are less vulnerable to tearing which is the main cause of injuries.
#5. Promotes fast recovery: Stretching should not only be done before you work-out but even after, and at other times.
During exercise, chemicals called toxins are created. When you stretch after an exercise, these toxins move into the bloodstream and out of the muscles. Why is this good? Well it is because it allows you wake up the next day, without feeling like your bones were tied, or the like.
#6. It makes you feel good: Everyone likes to be and feel free, and stretching can literally give you that feeling. Stretching increases your flexibility and allows you do more activities you otherwise wouldn’t have attempted.
Stretching is good for you for many reasons. Don’t neglect it. It could be the only thing standing between you and the prospective injury or new technique or position you wish to try.
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