BENEFITS OF A GOOD STRETCH

This week marks my first Pilates group reaching the end of their 6 week journey.  It's been really fun/exciting/enjoyable working with them.  One thing they have all learned is that learning to stretch is an important if slightly painful thing to do when you've never really done any stretching before.  Here's some of the benefits my group is beginning to discover
Stretching has many benefits.  Just start a programme of stretching, and you’ll soon notice many of them.  Some of the benefits of stretching are–

• relief from pain
• increased energy levels
• increased flexibility
• better range of motion of the joints
• greater circulation of blood to various parts of the body
• relaxation and stress relief
• enhanced muscular coordination
• improved posture
• greater sense of well-being

Increased flexibility and range of motion.

As we age, our muscles tighten and we have less range of motion in our joints. Simple activities that we once took for granted, like cutting our toenails, picking things up from the floor or zipping a dress, can  become difficult. A regular stretching programme can help lengthen your muscles and make these daily activities easier and more enjoyable.

Improved circulation.

Stretching improves circulation of blood to the muscles and joints. Increased  circulation also brings nutrients to our cells and removes toxins.

Better posture.

Chronically tense and tight muscles contribute to poor posture, which can then affect the functioning of our internal organs, not to mention our appearance, think Quasimodo or Widow's Hump. Stretching the muscles of the lower back, shoulders and chest can help keep the back in better alignment and improve posture.

Relaxation and stress relief.

Stretching, done properly, helps to relax tense muscles which result from stress. The feeling of relaxation brings a sense of well-being and relief from tension.

Reduce or prevent lower back pain.

Greater flexibility and range of motion in the hamstrings and muscles of the hips and pelvis help to reduce the stress on your spine that causes lower back pain.

During the last 6 weeks we've done some stretching in pairs which has resulted in much hilarity from the collective ooohing and aaahing and the odd profanity as tight muscles receive a stretch for the first time in years.  Maybe teaming up with a friend is a way to get you both motivated to start stretching yourselves and each other.

Til next week, be happy
MB