Streeeeetch

When is the last time you stretched? Like for real stretches, not the ones you do when you first get out of bed huffing and puffing for the day ahead. When have you actually sat down and made time to stretch?

Stretching, in my opinion, is the most overlooked, forgotten, highly beneficial activity for your overall health. It isn’t just for your muscular health. It helps EVERTHING! It can be done in short sessions when you just have a second or need a shake out, or it can be done in long form. It helps gets you going, and it helps to settle you down. It really can be a tool for all aspects of your life, mentally, physically, and emotionally. We are living in an age of uncertainty. Health crisis both physical and mental are at an alarming high. We have this generic idea of what a workout should be, where we go to a big box gym and slog away on the treadmill for the allotted time necessary to meet the guidelines social media and the government says. We push and pull on all the little machines in the line and then walk out the door calling the workout done. Ok, good job on hitting the gym, but how do you feel? Sometimes those endorphins are kicking at this point depending on how hard you pushed, but sometimes folks just walk out with the idea that something has been checked off the to do list. Which that idea needs to be a whole other blog. Yes, workouts are needed. Cardio and strength training are both very important but so is stretching. Stretching helps lengthen and relieve the pressure that has been pounded into the body in all areas, muscles, joints and organs. Taking the time to breathe with your movements hits a whole different way. That gives relief to the mind and soul….especially when the alerts are turned off of your phone for the duration. I’m not saying to give up your typical workout. I’m saying balance, add some stretching. Mix it up if time is an issue. Do a long stretch in place of one of those box gym days. Or put it in your daily routine, maybe part of your bedtime ritual. Turn the tv off and stretch for 10 minutes before you brush your teeth and go to bed. Maybe netflix and stretch instead of chill. I use it to wind down at night by stretching in a dark room with a dim red lamp, but you do you. Find the balance you need to make stretching a regular part of your life and I guarantee you will feel better everywhere.