5 Reasons To Stretch Everyday
Stretching has a wealth of health benefits — mental and physical. It’s unfortunately one of the most overlooked activities when we go about our day. Sometimes it becomes that thing we think we should do more often, but we don’t end up doing it unless we’re so tight or sore that we pretty much have to.
Here are some key reasons why stretching is always a good idea and why it can be a great addition to your self-care routine.
#1 Stretching Relieves Tight and Sore Muscles
I know I’m stating the obvious here, but I think sometimes it doesn’t really sink in. If stretching can help prevent muscle soreness and pain, it’s a good idea to incorporate that into our routines. You’ll feel better, mentally and physically. If you have a solid morning routine with lots of time before you start work, you could add a 10 minute stretch session. However, a lot of people find it easier to stretch at night (myself included) once the day is over. The benefit of stretching at night is that your muscles already had the whole day to work and get warmed up, so stretching before bed can help you wind down and relax for sleep.
#2 Stretching Can Prevent Injury
When muscles aren’t allowed to stretch and relax, sometimes injuries can happen. It’s so important to stretch whether you’re really active or lightly active. The silliest movements can cause strain or even pinch a nerve if the muscles are too tight. As stretching improves your range of motion, it can make your body more flexible and less prone to injury. Stretching is one of the best ways to “insure” yourself against potential injuries down the road.
#3 Stretching Works Hand In Hand With Your Fitness Journey
When your muscles are always sore or tight, this will impede your workouts and limit your progress. Injury can also happen if you don’t stretch after an intense workout. With an increased range of motion, less soreness, and potentially better sleep, you’ll be able to take your workouts to the next level.
#4 Stretching Relieves Stress
Physical health and fitness go hand in hand with mental health. Nothing makes you feel more relaxed and rejuvenated than a wonderful stretch session. You can attend a yoga class or do a stretch session on mat in your own home. I love the feeling of laying on my mat after a good 15–20 minutes of stretching.
#5 Stretching Reduces The Signs Of Aging
When you are flexible and have muscles that aren’t sore, you will feel better and you will experience less issues with pain or inflexibility as you age. A lot of people can get by without stretching for quite some time, especially in your 20s, 30s, and early 40s, but this can catch up with you quickly especially if you get an injury caused by little to no stretching. Regardless of your chronological age, stretching can give you a heap of benefits that will help you stay active for longer and with less pain. There are people in seniors homes who started stretching regularly and they have been able to do things they weren’t able to do even in their younger years.
Recap
Stretching is something you definitely don’t want to skip. I don’t believe in guilt-tripping, so if you skip a stretch session sometimes don’t beat yourself up about it. If you haven’t been a regular stretcher before reading this post, don’t feel guilty either. We all need to start somewhere. I used to run an 8 minute mile 5 days per week for a year and I didn’t stretch at all until a trainer told me how damaging my tight hamstrings could be if I don’t start stretching. Thankfully, that whipped me into shape and I do my best to stretch regularly now.
Thanks for reading until the end!