A lot of folks think stretching is just for athletes, young people, or yoga and Pilates devotees.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Stretching is important at all stages of life to maintain healthy, fluid and well-oiled joints, functioning muscles, balance and flexibility. It also helps reaction time.
Stretching should be a part of everyone’s daily wellness routine.
As gymnasts, we usually stretched as a group, before and following practice. Sometimes we helped each other stretch. The encouragement and aid helped.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a buddy, or guide, take you through a dedicated stretching routine?
Stretch help is on the way!
It turns out that a big massage chain has done just that—developed a dedicated stretching program.
Experts, who, between them, have 85 collective years of studying the functional movements of professional athletes and performers, have developed it through extensive research.
The method consists of ten targeted stretches that work from your top down. The stretches are designed to help your muscles reach their maximum flexibility.
The stretches are designed to be to be slow and deliberate traction techniques. The stretch “providers” take you through this guided stretching, which gently moves you beyond your resistance points. The goal is to increase circulation, reduce tension from the head down to your toes and improved muscle function.
The providers—who are knowledgeable in kinesiology (study of human movement) and anatomy—are all professionally trained and certified in the technique.
Sessions can be enjoyed in thirty or sixty-minute increments.
My opinion—
I haven’t given it a go yet. I’ll need to wait for my knee injury to calm down (since one of the stretches involves kneeling and leaning back on your heals) before trying it out. But I’m excited about the possibilities.
It’s a lot more fun and effective to have a “coach” guiding you through movements and workouts. And I’m going to guess that includes stretching!
Until next Wednesday, keep stretching and flexing that body! Ease and joy of movement can make life so much more enjoyable.
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea Arthur Owan is an award-winning inspirational writer, fitness pro and chaplain. She writes and works to help people live their best lives—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.