According to recent health and fitness statistics, less than 5 percent of the U.S. adult population participate in the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Over 15 percent are physically inactive. 

The benefits of regular exercise are numerous. Physical activity can boost your overall health and ward off a variety of health risks, including obesity and heart disease. 

Interestingly, there’s a variety of simple, fun exercises that can contribute to keeping your overall health in peak condition at all times. One of them is stretching, such as is done in yoga and pilates. 

So, what are the benefits of stretching? How can you implement an effective stretching routine in your life and reap maximum results from your efforts? 

These are some of the issues we talk about.  

Types of Stretching 

Before we delve into the benefits of stretching exercises, it's important to know some of the stretching techniques you can practice.

There’s a variety of stretching methods, as you’re going to learn if you take a pilates class. Choosing the appropriate stretching technique for your fitness level is essential to avoid injury and reap the best results from your workout. The two most popular stretching methods are:

Dynamic Stretching

Dynamic stretching refers to a movement-based type of stretching in which you don’t hold an end position. In this technique, you use moving stretches to mimic the movements you’ll perform during your actual workout. Dynamic stretches are ideal for warming up your joints and muscles.

Static Stretching

Static stretching involves holding a pose for a certain period of time. In this technique, you lengthen a muscle until you feel tension before holding that position for a while. 

Static stretching is ideal for relieving muscle fatigue and reducing your recovery time after a workout. 

What Are the Benefits of Stretching Exercises?

The popularity of such exercises as yoga and pilates has skyrocketed, thanks to the proven results of regular stretching. Here are seven proven benefits you can expect by making stretching part of your morning routine. 

1. Increased Flexibility

The top benefit of stretching is that it boosts the extent to which your individual muscles can lengthen. As you grow older, your body naturally becomes less flexible. That’s because aging causes your muscles to tighten and get shorter.

Aging also makes your body more susceptible to injury. By stretching regularly, you can help your body stay more flexible and avert frequent injuries. And since you have a greater range of motion, your body doesn’t need to work extra hard when doing your daily tasks. 

2. Improved Blood Circulation

Another clear benefit of stretching is that it boosts your blood circulation. When you stretch, blood flows more easily to your muscles, reducing soreness and shortening your recovery time after a workout. Improved blood flow eliminates your muscle tissues’ waste byproducts and keeps your muscles nourished. 

3. Stretching Can Eliminate Pain

Everyone experiences aches and pains from time to time. Some people experience tightening in the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip flexors. Such tightening can be quite painful.

One way to alleviate this problem is through regular stretching.  

4. It Relaxes Your Body and Mind

Today’s fast-paced world can take a huge toll on your mind and body. Unless you take enough time to relax and unwind, the stress can add up. 

Stretching is one of the most effective ways to help you to relax. It relieves muscle tightness and soothes any tension you have. 

Yoga is particularly effective when it comes to relaxing your body and mind. Not only does it help you lengthen and strengthen your muscles, but it also helps your mind reconnect with your body, taking away your stress.

5. Improved Posture

A vast number of people today spend most of their time bent over keyboards, stretching over their phones, and so on. These activities can negatively impact your posture over time.

Stretching can help you regain and maintain good posture. When you stretch, you loosen the tight muscles in your torso and back. The result is that your spine stays in proper alignment, which makes it easier to sit or stand straight.  

6. It Boosts Your Mood

Having a bad day? A quick way to lighten up your mood is by stretching. 

When you're stretched, one of the things that happen is that your muscles contract, causing tension. This affects the way you feel.

Stretching loosens tight muscles and boosts blood flow. It also releases endorphins, which make you feel happier. 

7. It’s the Surest Midday Pick-up

Many people feel tired and lethargic after midday. The temptation to have a snack during this time of day can be overwhelming. But how about stretching instead?

Stretching can quickly give you the boost of energy you need when hit with that mid-afternoon slump. It helps loosen your muscles and keep you feeling energetic throughout the day.

Tips for an Effective Stretching Routine

For stretching to produce the best results, you need to be doing it correctly. Here are a few suggestions for a winning stretching routine.

Warm-Up

While stretching up is often a warm-up before your actual workout, it’s a good idea to do a light physical activity before you start the stretching. The idea is to boost your body’s core temperature and enhance blood flow to your muscles and connective tissue. Try jogging in place, brisk walking, jumping jacks. 

Don’t Overstretch Your Muscles

Beware of becoming overzealous when doing stretching exercises. Stretching shouldn't be painful. If you are exerting excessive energy, you're doing it wrong and could tear your muscles.

Always ease into a stretch. Sure, you may feel a little uncomfortable while stretching, but it shouldn’t hurt. Avoid pushing your body beyond its limits.

Make Stretching Part of Your Daily Routine

As you can see, there are many benefits of stretching. When you do it properly and consistently, stretching can enhance your flexibility, boost your blood circulation, improve your posture, and brighten up your mood, among other benefits. Given that stretching is easy and doesn’t require you to invest in expensive equipment, there’s no reason you shouldn’t start doing it today.

Are you interested in Pilates classes or private sessions? Please contact us today.