We all have memories from grade school of our Physical Education teacher lining us all up and insisting that we stretch before we did any exercise. We can all remember that feeling of struggling to maintain our balance as we awkwardly held our feet in order to stretch our legs. But now that things like the mile-run and dodgeball are no longer parts of your daily adult life, you may be asking yourself: Do I still need to be stretching?
Well, the answer to that question is very simple… yes.
Stretching provides a wide variety of benefits for your body from reducing risk of injury, improved blood circulation, improved mood and calmness.
Every time you stretch, you are increasing blood flow to that part of the body. That means more oxygen and nutrients will then be delivered to the desired muscles. Increased oxygen can help to remove feelings of soreness and aching. It can even help with your sexual health. Stretching the legs, hips and pelvic area before sex can help with better orgasms and reduce risk or frequency of things like erectile dysfunction.
Stretching will also loosen your muscles which will help prevent injury. This is not just for professional athletes. Many people experience muscle injuries that occur from everyday life. Things like getting something off a shelf, or lifting a grocery bag, or getting out of bed can (if done incorrectly) cause injury. That is why stretching is so important to add to your daily routine. Regular stretching will keep those muscles loose and nimble and better able to adapt to the movements you put them through.
Stretching can also help improve your sleep. Studies have found that stretching before bed can improve the quality of your sleep. Things like meditation, tai chi or yoga before bed can greatly improve the quality of your Zzz’s. This happens because stretching will cause you to focus on your body and your breathing. While focusing on your breath, you are less likely to be worrying about the busy day you have tomorrow or any other stresses or anxieties that may be bothering you. This increase in mindfulness allows the brain to begin relaxing and ease itself into sleep more easily. Stretching has also been found to release endorphins which improve your mood.
So whether you are in your middle school’s gymnasium or just trying to get through your daily life, it is very important that you take a few minutes a day and give that body a good stretch.
*This is a collaborative guest post
Author bio – Jane Silverstein is the owner of Soul Source Therapeutic Devices located in Los Angeles. She is committed to women’s health issues and to helping women worldwide regain and/ or maintain their sexual health. She is passionate about helping others and has always been involved in a multitude of charitable causes.
