Stretching

[Lifeisamazing]

• How much importance does stretching have for you?

• How often do you stretch and how do you stretch?

[pinacolada]

i do stretching every morning -- i heard its a good way and easy way to stay slim.

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

I have to, every day, or I feel like poo.

I started dancing when I was 3 - ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, various kinds of folk dancing (flamenco, raqs sharki, some rajasthan folk dance), and when I was 21 I transitioned from mainly dance to mainly yoga.

I do at least 2-20 min sessions a day. I only did one yesterday and I feel all stiff.

[Dimond]

Extremely! I use to dislike stretching and very rarely did it even though my body desperately needed it. Now I do it as often as possible especially since I sit for long periods. It's eliminated my need for a chiropractor & massages and severe leg muscle cramping I use to get. Now I love it and it's become part of my spiritual movement component. I incorporate stretching whenever I'm doing any type of movement.

[DavidPro]

Me too! Stretching is so very important... for so many reasons. If you're an athlete, it lowers the risk of injury and speeds recovery time when you're training. Muscles are more supple, reaction time is faster and range of motion is greater.

And once your body is used to it, it feels great! Opening up areas of the body that have been stiff for years is amazing. It's like rediscovering how good it can feel to be in your body.

[ginkgo]

Great for abs. Exercise reduces your chances of getting breast cancer. Here is Dr Oz's 7 minute daily workout. Workout Videos | HealthCorps It is mostly yoga streching.

[Lifeisamazing]

Originally Posted by Dimond

Extremely! I use to dislike stretching and very rarely did it even though my body desperately needed it. Now I do it as often as possible especially since I sit for long periods. It's eliminated my need for a chiropractor & massages and severe leg muscle cramping I use to get. Now I love it and it's become part of my spiritual movement component. I incorporate stretching whenever I'm doing any type of movement.

It is so common that people hate stretching. I hardly ever see those big (fat) macho men stretching or warming-up in the gym, they go straight to lift heavy.

I've grown to enjoy stretching a lot. The whole body seems to be much more mobile since then.

[DavidPro]

Originally Posted by Lifeisamazing

It is so common that people hate stretching. I hardly ever see those big (fat) macho men stretching or warming-up in the gym, they go straight to lift heavy.

I've grown to enjoy stretching a lot. The whole body seems to be much more mobile since then.

Yeah, and you're more in touch with your body too. Stretching and relaxing turns off your fight or flight response and activates the parasympathetic nervous response, which acts to rejuvenate the body... heal, restore and strengthen all of the body's systems that keep your body feeling alive and healthy.

[dirtyhive]

I stretch obsessively and consider it vitally important for fitness. I am a taekwondo enthusiast, gymnast, tricker and freerunner, and I stretch before everything. To me, being flexible and lithe feels much, much better than being huge or strong.