25 Jul flexibility
Flexibility Training
Contrary to popular opinion, the benefits of flexibility training include more than doing splits on the dance floor.
Here’s a metaphor for you: picture a box of uncooked spaghetti noodles (gluten free of course). The uncooked spaghetti noodles are stiff and easily fractured. These noodles represent your muscles prior to your workout’s warmup. If you dive into static stretching (that is stretching while standing or sitting still) without proper warm up, you run the risk of overstretching and damaging muscle tissue. Now picture those same noodles after a few minutes in a boiling pot of water. They are pliable and ready for the physical activity of your choice. All thanks to five to ten minutes of warming up.
In addition to preventing muscle and tendon injuries, according to Harvard Health, the benefits of flexibility exercises on a regular basis include (read more here):
- Full range of motion
- Improved athletic performance
- Improved functional abilities
- Increased relaxation
- A healthy habit to start and end your day
Tips for adding stretching into your workouts.
- Always, always, always warmup. Our bootcamp workouts always begin with a warmup for this very reason.
- Dynamic stretching is a great warmup! Think about a lunge with a twist. With this type of stretch you are stretching your body during a movement/motion.
- Don’t bounce while performing a static stretch. As the name implies, there should not be any movement, particular bouncing, while performing a static stretch. Imagine a hamstring stretch, sitting and reaching while breathing regularly is key.
- Remember to take deep breaths and adequate exhales while stretching.
- Don’t forget to cool down at the end of your workout.
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