Health And Fitness For Life

When we think of fitness our focus goes directly to strength training, exercises, aerobics and our diet.  We overlook the one thing that makes all of these areas work which is stretching.  Flexibility is an important part of any fitness program because it is important for the muscles and joints to be able to make their full range of movement.  Also as important, a heart rate monitor watch is needed because it records how your body is reacting to your workout regimen.  There are a range of benefits that comes from being flexible :  a decrease amount of stress and pain to the joints, increase in mobility to the joints, increase circulation throughout the body and helps the muscles and joints to relax.

It does not matter which stretching program you choose weather it be Pilate’s, yoga or basic stretching.  The issue is to control our participation and not go outside of the area of your capabilities.  For example, doing an hour flex program when you should have started with a 20 minute workout. 

Do’s and Don’ts:

Do not bounce or push while stretching

Do stretching every day but not less than 3 days a week

Do not stretch injured muscles or joints

Do warm ups with a wrist heart rate monitor

Try These:

Neck Stretches: Standing straight with feet shoulder-width apart, drop the right ear toward the right shoulder and hold, do the same with the left ear.

Inner Thighs: Sitting, place the soles of the feet together, and pull up slightly on the feet, hinging your body forward.

Calves: Using a wall for balance, step the right foot as far behind you as you can with your leg straight and the heel down.  Lean forward, slightly bending the left leg. Repeat with you left foot behind you.