THE HARD WAY

Can you do this?

  Or this?

Well, if you can do either of these you are my new super hero.  Seriously, who wouldn't want to check out your own butt by just bending yourself in half.  Just think of the time you would save not having to find a mirror.  WOW!

I have got to be the least flexible person on the planet.  Due to my lack of flexibility comes injury.  For the past month and a half I have been fighting an old person injury.  Only OLD people get injured while doing absolutely NOTHING.  I guess that means I'm getting old.  It's funny how we classify the word old.  My grandmother who is 86 attended my spinning classes and didn't complain once. . . NOT ONCE.  She doesn't consider herself OLD.  Why is that?   

I herniated a disc in my back, and have been in intense pain for what seems to be ages.  I have come to final realization that it is my lack of flexibility that has caused this to happen.  So how can you improve your flexibility and improve your overall health?  I don't think it's rocket science.  

S T R E T C H

Here are some reported benefits from stretching:

• Improved muscle balance around joints; this will improve your posture.
• Reduction of injuries from playing sports in our everyday life activities.
• Increase in the flow of nutrients supplied to muscle and cartilage by the blood stream, helping recovery.
• Improved flexibility. This is the range of motion of a joint.

Preparing to stretch out correctly

Stretching should not be practiced at the beginning of any workout. As your muscles are cold the risk of injury is increased. 5 to 10 minutes of cardiovascular activity is suitable as a general warm up, to increase the temperature of your muscles. Now you can practice light stretching before your workout.

It is more important to stretch out after your workout, as muscles tighten as a result of exercise. Stretching will loosen them and improve their range of motion. Hold a stretch for 10 to 60 seconds at the point of tension or tightness. This should only be mild tension and not to the point of pain.

I have learned the HARD WAY that stretching is extremely important before and after any type of exercise.  I will keep stretching and let you all know when I can kiss my own butt.   

 GO HERE FOR STRETCHING IDEAS