Mind-Body Exercise: Stretching

Mind-Body exercise means any exercise that requires a conscious effort to link how you're feeling to what your body is doing. This generally includes stretching, yoga, and meditation. These are different that other exercises because unlike running or swimming, each pose requires you to do it in a thoughtful manner.

The Importance of Stretching:
Stretching is key to maintaining flexibility. Flexibility is required to do simple tasks such as reaching for the light switch or bending down to pick up something. Moving, bending, jumping, and running all require a level of flexibility. Maintaining flexibility is imperative for you to be able to do tasks comfortably.

As you grow older, your tendons shorten and tighten, causing stiffness. This explains for the inability for the elderly to walk as gracefully or with their back as perfectly straight as the younger generations.

Although stretching has been proven to not relieve soreness after a workout or reduce risk of injury, stretching after a workout when your muscles have already been warmed up is the best time to work on your flexibility. Flexibility is key for balance and coordination.

When you stretch, make sure you do not stretch until you are properly warmed up. You do not want to pull a muscle. Usually, after 3 minutes of cardio exercise is enough time for your muscles to be ready to be stretched. For each stretch, hold it for 30 seconds. Any longer is not necessary.

Basically, stretching is not as important for avoiding injury or soreness in the short term. However, in the long term, the increased flexibility will help avoid injury through better balance and coordination gained from it. So stretch!