So you are committed to your gym routine and turned up regularly to work on your banging pecs and delts. You squat and lift, plank, trx, lift some more, then squeeze in some cardio. But haven’t you forgotten something?
For some, stretching can be seen as a non-essential part of your gym routine, but we are here to let you know that, just as post-work out fuel is necessary to build muscle, stretching is imperative to lengthening out your muscles and promoting muscle growth.
Why? What does stretching actually do?
· Helps improve flexibility (increases your range of motion).
· Assists in correct posture by lengthening tight muscles that pull areas of the body away from their intended position (because of so much time at our computers, many of us have tight chest muscles which pulls the shoulders and head forward, leaving us with a hunched shoulder look).
· Even a short amount of time (10-15 minutes) of stretching can calm the mind, provide a mental break, and give your body a chance to recharge.
· Classes like yoga or pilates offer you a chance to spend an hour releasing tension physically and mentally whilst stretching out all the kinks at knots.
To get the most out of the stretching:
Skip the pre-workout stretch - Your muscles should be warm before you begin your stretching. Do a warmup before a workout that simulates the movements you’ll be doing in order to warm up and prepare your body. Stretch after the workout when your muscles are already warm.
Focus on the muscles that need the most help - Instead of trying to stretch your whole body after every time you exercise, focus on a key area of the body each time. Spend longer on each stretch and include more stretches for each area. If you are aware of muscles that are tight, then focus on those ones.
We also encourage you to include one long-duration flexibility session in your gym program. Choose a flexibility class, such as yoga, hot yoga, Pilates, or develop your own flexibility work for 45-60 minutes at least once a week.
You will soon see the benefits stretching can bring both physically and mentally. Take the time and enjoy the stretch!
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