The Importance Of Stretching

When most people workout, they like to jump right in and get started right away. This might be a good way to get done quickly but it takes away from the efficiency of the workout. In order to maximize your workout it is important to take your time and do things right rather than rushing through everything, and one of the best things you can do to maximize any workout is to stretch.

A lot of people know that stretching is good for you but the question that often comes up is whether to stretch before of after a workout. Well I do both. Most experts say that you shouldn’t stretch before a workout as that can cause more harm than good. But for me it always helps me warm up and gets me loose for my workout.

I like to stretch for about 5 minutes both before and after my workouts. I also find myself stretching throughout the day as a stress reliever. A lot of experts don’t recommend stretching before a workout as they believe that you can injury yourself since your muscles are stiff and cold. While this maybe true, I believe your age, conditioning, and the kind of stretches you do have a lot to do in determining whether stretching before a workout can cause harm or not.

As you age, you body naturally becomes more stiff and fragile making it more prone to injury. Also those that don’t exercise on a regular basis aren’t used to strain that stretching might cause their bodies. For these people, it is probably better to warm up a bit with some cardio before stretching. For the rest, I believe that they can jump right in and should be fine.

Also the kinds of stretches you perform will have great influence in determining whether or not it will lead to injury. If you are stretching your body out to the point where it hurts, then obviously you can injure yourself. However if you perform light stretches just to loosen your muscles then chances of injury will minimal if anything at all.

When I stretch before a workout, I do some light stretches to the point where I am straining my muscles without hurting them. Then I like to hop around a bit and sort of jiggle my whole body; arms, legs and all to loosen the muscles. Doing so helps me feel relaxed and prepares my muscles for the upcoming workout.

As for stretching after a workout, most experts agree that stretching after a workout is in fact beneficial. When you workout, your muscles tighten and become more tense, making them stiff. By stretching, you relieve the tension and lactic acid build-up within them and help restore your muscles back to the original state, which maximizes their growth.

Proper Stretching Techniques

When stretching, it is important to maintain good techniques. Doing so will help prevent injuries and help you get the most out of your stretches. Most experts recommend doing about 5 minutes of cardio before stretching. So, if you want you can walk around or jog for a little bit before you begin stretching.

I usually don’t do any cardio before I stretch and have never been injured from stretching. The only cardio I do is walking from my car to the gym, which is enough for me to get started. But if you feel like doing some light cardio before stretching, then go right ahead. Remember everyone’s body is different and so what works for might not work for you.

When you are done with your warm-ups, begin stretching. Stretch slowly and with proper balance. It is important to take your time and not rush through this process. For each stretch, hold it for anywhere from 15 to 20 seconds and repeat it a couple of times until you feel loose. Each of these stretching sessions should last for about 5 minutes. Also make sure to focus more on the muscles groups that you plan on working out while doing your whole body stretches.

Another important thing to remember is to stretch to the point where you are straining your muscles without hurting them. If you feel any pain at all while stretching, stop! Chances are you are either straining too hard, not using the proper techniques, or have an injury. So going any further will do you no good and can cause adverse effects.

Benefits of Stretching

Stretching has many well known benefits. It is a great stress reliever and tension reducer, which can help prevent cramps and injury. Also it makes you more flexible, increasing your range of motion.

Another benefit of stretching is that it helps with muscle recovery and muscle toning by elongating them and relieving them of stress. Besides that, stretching improves your blood flow, can help ease certain pains, and help you maintain a good posture.

All in all stretching is a great activity that can be performed at anytime. I personally stretch out a lot throughout the day to keep me relaxed and refreshed. Stretching is also great compliment to any workout and should be performed in conjunction with all your workouts for optimal results.

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