Why Stretching Is Highly Important For Mental and Physical Health

Several studies have shown that stretching regularly can have a great impact on your overall health. Unfortunately, most people have this notion that stretching should be done only before or after physical activity. According to health coaches, stretching should be done regularly regardless of physical activity. Here, we shall go ahead and reveal why stretching is essential for your mental and physical well-being. 

With modern lifestyles, we spend most of the day sitting, glued to the computers or phones. This is a position for poor posture. For this reason, you are advised to take a break once in a while and stretch. The stretching targets the pectoralis, hamstring muscles, and upper trapezius, to mention a few. 

For many people, stretching before an exercise feels good, another reason why you should make it a daily activity. It's important to note that things that make you feel good can help reduce chronic stress and set you in a calmer state. Simple stretching can help you achieve a calmer mental state, especially when accompanied by some deep breathing. Every time you release a deep breath, you should imagine that you are letting go of a stressor in your life. Stretching for this intention can definitely give you a mental boost in a better way. 

As you age, a lot happens to your body. One thing that you can't miss is the fact that your joints tend to lose range of motion. So, how do you deal with this? The simple way to counterattack this is through stretching. Engaging in regular stretching can help improve this even if the joints' range of motion is limited. 

Back pain somehow goes hand in hand with posture, and it's one problem that affects a larger population. If you have a poor posture in your upper back, your lower back compensates and, as a result, pain. Also, if you've tight hamstrings or hip flexors, your lower back compensates, and this can lead to severe back pain. 

Stretching your leg muscles and muscles for posture can help deal with back pain. So, which is the right stretch to perform for reduced back pain? According to Alex Larsson, the hyperbolic stretching developer, a perfect stretch should cover all the necessary muscles and match your gender. His Asian-borrowed stretching helps unlock your body's potential for gains in strength and flexibility. Using such stretches can help individuals who spend most of their time sitting and glued to their computers. 

Why is it advisable to stretch before an exercise or sport? Well, the stretching helps cover your muscles. According to fitness coaches, if you stretch your muscles too far, they may become torn or strained. The amazing thing is that stretching before the real activity can increase the range in which your muscles can move. As a result, the likelihood of getting injured lowers. Another thing to note is that the stretches help boost the blood flow to the muscles. The flow, in return, decreases the tightness they may have hence preventing a tear or strain. 

After a workout or a muscle strain, you are more likely to develop soreness. Engaging in stretching can help relieve some of this discomfort. When you sustain an injury, the muscles around that site tend to tighten up as a protective measure. The best way to deal with this is by stretching. Through stretching, you can alleviate the pain and soreness from these tight muscles. 

Currently, many individuals are forced to work day and night to make ends meet. These hassles and bustles of the streets are what lead to stress headaches. The problem is that the headaches can often mess up with your daily life. The truth is that engaging in regular stretching can help deal with such kinds of stretches. You should look for the right kind of stretch that won't strain you to curb the problem. On top of the stretching, ensure that you add a proper diet, stay hydrated and get plenty of sleep time for effective results. 

Many people will deny the point of being flexible. The truth is that being flexible can significantly enhance the intensity of your workouts. The more you stretch, the more flexible your muscles become. A good example is when you stretch your hip flexors. It means that you will go deeper when you squat. As hinted earlier, our muscles are prone to tighten with day-to-day lives, hence the sudden injuries. Luckily, with a few-minutes stretch, you will be more flexible and hence perform everyday tasks efficiently. 

Although stretching is highly recommended before exercises, it should be made a regular thing. Mentioned in this article are benefits that come with stretching. By reading through the blog, you will better understand why you should make this a daily routine.