Stretching is an important part of muscle health.  It is a simple, quick and effective way to bring blood, which carries the oxygen and nutrients, into the muscles making them more supple and relaxed.  A relaxed muscle is less likely to tear or go into spasm.  This means a decrease in body pain and an increase in general well being.

It’s not just an athlete that needs to stretch.  Most of us think of stretching in an association with cooling down after exercise or playing sports.  Of course, stretching at this time is an important part of decreasing your chance of injuries.  However, stretching can also be incorporated into your daily living to give you more energy, introduce gentle body awareness and keep your muscles more relaxed and free of stress.

When working for long periods in one position, your body needs breaks.  You can do this by simply stopping every hour to stretch.  If you’re at the computer, do some neck rolls, and on your feet, stretch your legs and lower back and stretch your neck and shoulders.  Simple five minutes stretches every hour can save you from painful stiff muscles at the end of a workday.  Also, once you begin stretching regularly, you will start to have more awareness of your body and are able to stop and relax your muscles consciously and ward off potential injuries.

A little stretching  through out the day can go a long way.  So be kind to your body and start stretching today.