When you have some flexible twitches in your Never Flex exercise program, it’s more like this “our little secret” to keep you supple and agile as you advance through the years. Stretching is not an entry into very deep splits; it is allowing joints to move appropriately and optimally through their full range of motion. Flexible training sessions actually do the job: beyond the obvious advantages including good posture, stretching considerably reduces the risk of getting injured.
Dynamic vs. Static Stretching
“Dynamic is using active movements, and when you’re swinging your leg, that’s actually warm-up, and that’s part of your workout warm-up. Static would be after your workout, when all the muscles are sufficiently relaxed and those muscles are held in a position, such as stretching hamstrings, for about 30 seconds.
Stretching of Hip Flexors
People who sit for hours at a desk can get tight hip flexors, which you can stretch out just by kneeling and gently pushing your hips forward. It will improve your squatting and running ability and help avoid low back pain.
Open the Breastplate
Hold the arm in a door frame and then move the shoulder around to create some rib-cage stretch; it is sooo needed after all that computer typing, cell-phone staring, or general anterior-postural derangement! Better breathing and better shoulder health come out of it.
Release Hamstring
Lower back pain can be a result of tight hamstrings pulling down on the pelvis, and instead of standing and reaching for the toe, you lie on the back and take one leg up towards the ceiling with a towel. It’s pretty safe stretching the back of the legs.
“Cat-Cow” Spinal Health
A full range of motion for the spine. After a long day at work, these four-leg arches and rounds will hydrate the discs of the spine and relieve some tension.
Calf Stretching
Your calves do so much of the work when walking or running, and you can stretch them against the wall before running or walking to help prevent problems such as plantar fasciitis and keep them supple for balance.
Never Stretch Cold Muscles
Barely anything is comparable to a rubber band, except perhaps here: a rubber band snaps if you put it under tension while cold. It’s pretty much that simple. Otherwise, it will stretch quite easily when it is warm. So, using 5 minutes of easy movement-walking or jump-jacks-always precedes deeper stretching.
Know Your Limits
Stretching should feel mild pulling or good tension. Stabbing or shooting pain piercing through your body is a no-no. This would translate to an infringement of your limits with microtears in the muscle.
