As a massage therapist, I often ask clients about their stretching routine. More times than not I find that people don’t fit much stretching into their schedules. Having a regular regimen of stretching is an important part of maintaining correct balance in the body, and omitting these stretches deprive you of a valuable self-healing technique.

Stretching your muscles on a regular basis can improve range of motion and flexibility. Keeping muscles at a proper length takes unnecessary tension off tendons, which lessens the chance of any damage. Stretching also allows for more muscle tone; muscle will be larger in volume without becoming bulky.

Top Five Reasons to Stretch

Athlete Performance: From die-hard runners to the recreational golfer- regular stretching exercises will increase flexibility and range of motion. This lessens the chance of damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons. Stretching muscles also increases muscle tone without creating bulk.

Body Building: Think of a goldfish in a fishbowl. That little fish will stay the same size unless it’s given a chance to expand in a larger tank. Muscles work on the same principal. Stretching a muscle gives it more room to expand and add mass.

Posture Improvement: Individuals who work at a computer desk or drive long distances regularly seem to have a permanent slouched position, and will often have upper back pain. Chest muscles become short while upper back and neck muscles become taunt and tense. By stretching the muscles in the front portion of your body allows the shoulders to fall into proper position, letting the upper back muscles relax and letting you balance your spine properly over your hips.

Elderly: Muscles that stay in a tight shortened state have a more likely chance of getting injured. An easy stretching routine can restoring muscle flexibility and endurance help regain balance and strength, and lessen the likelihood of an injury from a fall or sudden movement.

Weight Loss: Frequently stretching will increase the amount of lean muscle in your body. This in turn raises your metabolic rate, which increases the amount of calories burnt. Adding stretches to an exercise routine can assist in faster results.

Most people fit into one or more of these categories. No matter whom you are, you are probably looking for a simple way to improve your body, whether it’s speed and endurance, dropping a few pounds, developing good posture, or improving your flexibility. It’s easy to develop an effective stretching routine; most can be done in your home without assistance.

Jaime’s Recommended Reads:
Stretching, by Bob Anderson
Active Isolated Stretching: The Mattes Method, by Aaron L. Mattes

© 2010 Long Island Sports Massage — All Rights Reserved.

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Jaime Savarese is a Licensed Massage Therapist with DREAM Wellness and is widely considered the foremost expert in Massage Therapy in Suffolk County, New York. If you’d like more tips such as these feel free to visit Jaime at http://www.facebook.com/JaimeSavareseLMT, and http://twitter.com/#!/JaimeSavarese.

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