The thing we need to know and understand is that stretching is one of the most important parts of any workout. It is the key to have a relaxed and effective workout or having an uncomfortable or even injury-prone workout.
After some observation and research, we have come to the conclusion that a lot of us know that we should stretch before a workout but the problem comes in at the juncture where we realized not all of us know how to stretch properly.
So to help we’ve come up with a list of very need to know information about stretching to help you stretch better for a better workout experience.
Don’t Stretch Cold Muscles
Always warm up first. Start with a jog in place, a light march on the spot, or even some jumping jacks. Don’t just jump into a stretch. You want your body to be warm and limber enough for you to stretch properly, effectively, and safely.
Keep your muscles warm
Always aim to keep your muscles warm. Warmth or rather heat in the body makes the muscles more flexible which in turn makes it easier for you to get into a deeper and more effective stretch.
Hold the Stretch
In order for you to gain and extend your body’s flexibility, you need to slowly push yourself and endure uncomfortable stretching for at least 30 seconds to a 1 minute. Hold the stretch and don’t let go until you feel the muscle you are stretching has been activated and stretched effectively.
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Breathe
Breathe Deeply. In between stretching your muscles remember to take 2 minutes to breathe deeply. Deep breathing increases oxygen levels in your body and increases the effectiveness of your flexibility while giving you the added benefit of relaxation and comfort.
Don’t Bounce
Although some dynamic movement may be required for certain stretches, bouncing into and out of stretches can cause injury and should be avoided.
Post-workout stretch
We are all too familiar with stretching before a workout but how about stretching when you are done working out? After a rigorous workout, you need to your soothe your muscles by stretching them the same way you warmed them up. This enables you to avoid stiff muscles, more comfortable movement, and increases your flexibility by keeping you more limber.
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Special thanks to our Fitness Model Simi Mkala please visit her Instagram page in the link below:
Simi Mkala ( https://www.instagram.com/simi_mkala/ )