Flexibility is one of the most ignored aspects of our overall health. By improving your flexibility you can reduce your risk of injury both in everyday life and in sports, such as golf.

Improved flexibility helps maintain healthy muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Stretching will improve posture, agility, and range of motion. I know that stretching can be one of the most boring forms of exercise, so I will explain below how you can save time and fit it into your daily routine.

There are different stretching techniques that can be used depending on what you want to achieve. Since one of the goals of this blog is to educate you and not simply feed you information, I will briefly explain the different types of stretching techniques…

Stretching 101

·          Self Myofascial Release

This form of stretching is great for getting rid of “knots” in your muscle tissue by applying gentle force using a firm foam roller. I’ve used this method and it’s a little uncomfortable while you’re doing it, but it feels great when you are done.

·          Static Stretching

This is the method that most people think of when someone mentions stretching. It’s when you take the muscle to the point of tension and then hold it for a minimum of 20 seconds. And yes there is a scientific reason for the 20 second minimum.  The technical term is called “autogenic inhibition.” But that’s not important. What’s important is that your body has a built-in mechanism that prevents the muscle from being stretched too far, but it takes about 20 seconds before that mechanism kicks in.

·          Active Isolated Stretching

This method of stretching was developed by Aaron Mattes and involves holding a stretch for only about 2 seconds and then repeating for 5-10 repetitions. This is my favorite form of stretching, especially for a pre-activity warm-up.

This form of stretching will also save you time and it can also be enjoyable. The reason why it can save you time is because you can do it anywhere. If you sit at a desk you can stretch throughout the day and no one will even notice since you only hold the stretch for about 2 seconds.

I will cover the details of this type of stretching in future posts. You won’t want to miss it, so come back often. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about this type of stretching now, just leave your comments and I’d be happy to cover it in more detail.

·          Dynamic Stretching (sometimes called ballistic stretching)

This method of stretching is great for pre-activity warm-ups.  It involves moving the body in a full range of motion, such as rotating your body at the hip. You see athletes doing this type of stretching all the time. For example, many baseball players stretch this way, just before going up to bat.

I like this type of stretching as a warm-up. For example, before I do yard work or any other type of activity that may require flexibility.  I know most people don’t think of warming up and stretching before doing non-exercise related activities, but think about… doing so may reduce the risk of injury. So the next time you need to move that heavy couch, spent a few minutes warming up and stretching.

I welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions, so go ahead and leave your comments. I’d love to hear from you!  Also, if you’d like for me to cover a topic in more detail or cover a topic that I have not talked about yet, just let me know.

It’s importance for you to know that this blog was created for you.  The goal is to build a community of people helping people. So if you would like to share your knowledge on a health and fitness related topic, just leave your comments. 

Be Organic God’s Way!

Edwin

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