Do You Stretch?

As a massage therapist, I always ask my clients if they stretch.

When I massage clients, I can feel how much tension they hold and the pain they carry with them.

I always like to recommend certain stretches for my clients and, when they do them, the difference is quite remarkable! At their next visit, their body is much more relaxed and it becomes much easier for me to massage them.

Our bodies have the natural ability to stretch, especially when we wake up and before we get out of bed.

Stretching is vital in keeping our bodies healthy and mobile. With our lifestyles becoming more and more sedentary and technology doing most things for us, there is less reason for us to move and stretch our bodies, compared to earlier generations. This in turn leads to more pain and stiffness in our muscles and less motivation to move.

If we are not moving as much as we use to, then our muscles can’t work in the way they are supposed to and eventually they ‘shorten’ and ‘atrophy’.

‘Atrophy’ is when the muscles stiffen up so much they no longer work and cannot move anymore.

When we stretch, it is important to warm up first i.e. get the heart rate up and then ease into your stretches.

Always listen to your body in whatever stretch or exercise you do. If you feel you are stretching too much, then have a break or wait until the next day and ease into your stretches again.

The Benefits of Stretching:

• Blood and Lymph circulation is better.

• Muscles are nourished with oxygen and have a better range of movement.

• Less pain and stiffness from build up of lactic and uric acids in our bodies.

• A feeling of lightness and moving with ease.

• Overall, more energy.

• More motivation to do things.

• There is more clarity in thinking.

• Performance in any activity is much easier, i.e. sports, walking or any daily activity.

• Less need to take medication for muscle pain.

So, next time you’re thinking, how can I look after my muscles?

Get up from what you are doing, whether it’s working at a desk, driving a car, watching TV.

Do yourself a favour and stretch!

There are many stretches available! Choose which ones would suit your particular lifestyle and when done daily, you will notice a big difference in how good you feel and it will keep you feeling younger.