5 Best Stretching Tips

Tips To Stretch Safely and Efficiently

Don’t Aim For Pain

Stretching isn’t supposed to be painful, and if it is, you’ve gone too far. You should feel a little bit of tension when you stretch. Pain means you’re risking an injury. Over time, you’ll be able to stretch a little bit farther than what you’re used to, but it should never be forced.

Breathe

You can’t get a good, deep stretch when you hold your breath. Taking deep breaths while you stretch relaxes both your mind and your muscles. Holding your breath also prevents oxygen from getting to your muscles.

Warm-Up

If you stretch your muscles before they’re warmed up, you can increase your risk of getting an injury. Cold muscles feel stiffer, and believe it or not, that’s the worst time to stretch them. It’ll cause everything to tighten due to a stretch reflex that activates a protective mechanism to prevent overstretching. That’ll lead to a weaker performance.

Consistency is Key

You’ll see an increase in flexibility and performance when you’re consistent with your stretching. If you’re not stretching routinely, you could increase your chances of mobility reduction that comes with aging.

Use Proper Technique and Posture

You can’t see results if you aren’t using the right technique when you’re stretching. In fact, you’re increasing your chances of injuring yourself when you have poor posture during a stretch. You shouldn’t allow your shoulders to slouch during a stretching exercise, and you should ensure your back is neutral the entire time.

Now Your Body Is Ready For Any Exercise

Running is a good activity, and we want you to enjoy doing it for a long time. Take care of your body and reduce your chances of getting injured by properly stretching those muscles that work hard to help you run. If you enjoy running, make sure to include stretching in your routine to promote better health.

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