FLEXIBILITY: It's an important part of overall physical
health.
Stretching
is an essential part of any program. It
eases muscle tension and gives general body relaxation. It
warms the muscles and helps to promote circulation, thereby
readying the body for exercise. It
improves the flexibility of joints, for better ease of movement. It
helps prevent muscle strain and other injuries.
A
stretched muscle is better able to resist stress than an
unstretched muscle. Stretching
feels great!!
You
should begin and end each aerobic workout with a series of stretching to
decrease risk of injury.In
addition, as you go through your strength training routine it is important to
stretch each muscle group as you go.
Stretching
can only be beneficial if it is done properly.Many people believe that in order to be effective, a stretch must be done
to the point of pain, or that it is necessary to bounce up and down.Actually these methods of stretching can cause damage to the muscles or
joints.
Stretching
should be done in a slow, relaxed, sustained fashion.To begin a stretch move to the point at which you feel a slight pull and
hold there for 10-30 seconds without bouncing.Breathe slowly and evenly, remember not to hold your breath.This is a time for relaxation.After
the tension has eased, move further into the stretch until you again feel a
slight pull.Hold again for 10-30 seconds.
