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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Stretch it out

S  T   R   E   T   C  H  IT OUT.
 Stretching helps to increase flexibility and warm up your muscles prior to exercise. This helps reduce the risk of injury during exercise!
Mayo Clinic's reasons why stretching is beneficial:
  • Already stated-Increased flexibility- Flexible muscles can improve daily performances and tasks by allowing you to perform them without becoming as tired.
  • Improve Circulation- Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles, which may shorten recovery time to your muscles if you've had any injury
  • Relieve Stress- Tense muscles cause ADDED stress.( Yoga is always a good way to relieve stress and relax your muscles!)
  • Enhance Coordination- Maintaining a full range of motion through your joints will allow your body to maintain better balance, which also helps prevent injury!

Stretching tips:
-Hold each stretch for appx. 30 seconds. It takes time to lengthen tissues safely.
-Stretch before and after exercise
*Stretching after exercise helps balance tension on muscles that have just been exercised*
-Get with someone who knows about myofascial release form of stretching. It works miracles ;)
-Recommended to warm up with a low intensity warm-up (such as walking on a treadmill) for a few minutes before stretching

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