Stretching 101

After studying all night I decided to take a break and go down to gym for some stretching. This was my off day from working out but I figured it couldn’t hurt to do some stretches. Some of the abs I did were basic crunches, leg raises, sit ups with a weighted ball. I did this for about 45 minutes and felt great afterwords.

I am saying all this to say that just because you have a off day from the gym or your workout, doing some light stretching, abs, yoga may help loosen you up, and also help with recovery. When I woke up the next morning, I could feel that my body had recovered significantly. I had no aches, soreness, or tightness which is a great thing since I am a runner.

Stretching is important for everyone! One of the greatest benefits of stretching is that you’re able to increase your range of motion, which means your limbs and joints can move further before an injury occurs. Stretching after exercising can also help with workout recovery, decrease muscle soreness, and ensure that your muscles and tendons are in good working order. The more conditioned your muscles and tendons are, the better they can handle the rigors of sport and exercise, and the less likely that they’ll become injured.

Incorporate some of theses movements in your before and after your routine and watch your workouts improve. When stretching I try to hold each movement for at least 20-30 seconds. This is usually the amount of time it takes for me to start feeling the blood flow. However this may be different for each person.  Focus on a pain free stretch  and relax and breathe frequently.

Some benefits of stretching:

• Reduced muscle tension
• Increased range of movement in the joints
• Better posture
• Stress relief
• Enhanced muscular coordination
• Increased circulation of the blood to various parts of the body
• Increased energy levels (resulting from increased circulation)
• Help improves cardiovascular health

Have a great day~ Team LJAY HEALTH