Improving flexibility through daily stretching exercises can benefit overall health, reduce stress, and improve circulation. Consistency and patience are key, with a variety of stretches targeting major muscle groups. Care must be taken to avoid injury, with deep breathing and using a chair for balance.
Good flexibility is not just an enviable trait exhibited by athletes and artists, but can be a part of each of our lives. Exercises designed to improve flexibility can be good for the overall health of the body, as well as reduce stress levels and improve circulation. It can take a long time, sometimes even years, to greatly improve flexibility, and it requires consistent daily effort. It doesn’t take long to start seeing the benefits of flexibility exercises, even if the end goal seems a long way off.
The most important step toward greater flexibility is to make it a daily activity. Even missing just one day can be a significant setback, so consistency and patience are paramount. It’s also a good idea to vary the stretches you do when trying to improve flexibility. This will not only help more than one set of muscles become flexible, but it will also serve to break the potential monotony of doing the same stretches over and over again.
When you stretch, you are pushing your muscles to limits they are not used to reaching. Carelessness can lead to injury and pain, so be sure to stretch in safe, natural positions. A mild burning sensation is normal and healthy, but stop if you feel any sudden pain. This is usually a warning signal from the body that injury is imminent.
Normal discomfort can be alleviated by taking deep breaths while stretching, as this provides much-needed oxygen to the muscles during that time. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth is best. It may also be beneficial to use a chair or other sturdy object for balance as you stretch, and to help you distribute your weight more effectively.
The stretching routines used by each person will vary, but to some extent they should focus on each major muscle group. Although it can take time to improve flexibility in the way you want, most people only need to spend ten to 15 minutes per day on stretching exercises to achieve this goal. Also, many people notice a significant difference in flexibility in the first two weeks. While this can be satisfying, it can be tempting to stop once some progress has been made. The best way to avoid this is to approach it with the mindset that stretching exercises will be a daily part of your life from now on, not just for improving flexibility, but for overall health and wellness.
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