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Stretching - why, when & how? |
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Saturday, 25 March 2006
- Written by Eliot Piltz
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Disclaimer: we are not acting as medical practitioners, nor are we giving medical advice. We are only sharing experience and know-how regarding injury prevention and physical conditioning. We do not guarantee the effectiveness of the following exercises, and we advise you to consult your physician if you have any medical conditions that may effect your ability to perform such exercises.
Why do it?
Stretching has many significant benefits, which all enhance your body's natural ability to perform at peak levels and recover quickly from strenuous exercise. Stretching increases circulation, adds elasticity to muscles and joints, prevents injury, increases flexibility and range of motion, and tones your body. Additionally, strenuous exercise causes lactic acid build-up in the muscles, which makes you stiff and easily fatigued. Cooling down then stretching is a very effective way to eliminate excess lactic acid from your body. If you shred hard, then just stop any physical activity, like sitting down, you will very quickly develop knots in your legs, which are more difficult to stretch and can cause more serious problems later.
When to do it:
Stretch before and after exercise for best results. Before exercise, it's best to do a light warm up before stretching to ensure you don't strain any muscles. After exercise, it's best to cool down (for example, a 5-10 minute walk) before stretching.
How to do it:
You should never hurry through your stretches. Take your time in each position, breathe deeply and consistently the whole time, and only stretch as deeply as you feel comfortable with. It's also very important to maintain good posture in your stretches. Any time your back is curved forward, your abdominals should be contracted (tight). Not following this simple step puts stress on the entire spine, and can gradually lead to serious health problems.
Because strecthing is best learned from a trained professional, we recommend a beginner's Yoga or stretching class.
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