The Benefits of Stretching 

Are you neglecting one of the most important aspects of your physical health? Although you may be active, do you stretch enough? Stretching is a very important practice and should be a part of your everyday routine. If you do not stretch often, you are at a greater risk of being injured. When you do not stretch your muscles, they become tight. If you were to go from no activity, such as sitting in a chair, to an activity that stretches your muscles, such as exercising, your muscles may become damaged.  

There are many benefits of stretching, such as: 

•   An increase of flexibility. 

•   Improve your performance in physical activities. 

•   Decrease the risk of injury. 

•   Allow your muscles to work more effectively. 

•   Greater range of motion in your joints.  

Stretching everyday can seem overwhelming, however there are some tips to make it more manageable.  

•   Do not consider it a warmup. Stretching cold muscles can   actually do more harm than good. Try going for a short walk or   jog to warm up your muscles, or even better, stretch after your   workout. 

•   Pick a muscle group. Trying to stretch every muscle of your   body can seem overwhelming and time consuming. Instead,   pick a few muscle groups to focus on, such as your hamstrings,   glutes, calves, and hips. Make sure you rotate which muscle   groups you focus on, so you don’t neglect any muscles. 

•   Hold the stretch. Try to hold each stretch for at least 30   seconds to ensure efficiency. Also, try to stay static rather than   bouncing to prevent injury.  

•   Breathe. Remember to breathe through your stretches! It can be  easy to be so focused on your stretch that you forget to take  nice long deep breaths.  

•   Stay consistent. Make sure you are stretching at least 2 to 3   times a week to ensure you are getting the full benefits of     stretching. By not staying consistent you risk losing flexibility   and other potential benefits. 

You may not notice your flexibility increase after a day or two of stretching. If you stay consistent, however, you will notice a difference in a few weeks! There are many different  
Youtube videos that guide you through stretches which have various different time durations and focus on many different muscle groups! Hamel Rec also offers group Yoga classes, which can also help you improve your flexibility!