By Dale Buchanan
Certified Fitness
Trainer
In almost every
activity or sport, stretching has always been a typical way to "warm up" the
body and get it ready for action. However, you do not have to be an elite
athlete to reap the rewards. It is my opinion that stretching, when done
properly is the most effective way to fully connect your mind and body through
your breath, and should be incorporated into every fitness program.
Below are some
of the benefits of stretching:
· Reduce
muscle and joint tensions to help make the body more relaxed.
· Help's
coordination and range of motion by allowing for freer movement.
· Prevent
injuries such as muscle strains, sprains, and pulls.
· Makes
strenuous activity easier by preparing the muscles for activity.
· Develop
body awareness and focus, as you become in-touch with your muscles.
· Promote
circulation by sending oxygen and blood to your muscles.
· Speeds
the healing process of injured or over trained muscles.
· Fascial
Stretching, developed by John Parrillo, can actually build muscle and make you stronger.
· Best of
all, it clears your mind and makes you feel good!
· Hold
each stretch in one position for about 30 seconds without bouncing.
· Breath
slow and deep as you stretch and hold.
· Clear
your mind and focus on the muscles being stretched, visualize them letting
go and relaxing throughout the entire stretch.
· Relax
the entire body; never go past the point of serious discomfort or pain.
· Stretch
the entire body, especially the shoulders, hips, and legs daily.
·
Stretching after the body is warmed up will produce better resultsbe sure to stretch after every cardio and weight training session.
· Use
stretching as the "cool down" phase of your workout.
· Stretch
between sets while weight training to help the targeted muscle recover faster and grow bigger.
Having a partner
assist you while you focus on letting go and breathing will produce tremendous
results. Your partner has to be familiar with the stretches and your body.
Communication is a must when doing partner stretching and should only be
performed by a trained professional. There are many books and videos to get
you started. The best way to learn the proper technique is to hire a Personal
Fitness Trainer experienced and well educated in Flexibility Training.
Certified Fitness
Trainer
Natural
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