Have you ever had a good stretch in the morning that changed the mood of your day? If you have, it isn’t an accident, and if you haven’t, it’s about time you did. Stretching relieves your body from pain and tension caused by the wrong sleeping position and other strenuous activities. The relief after a good stretch means you’ve loosened tight muscles and increased blood flow—which is one of the best ways to start your day. The secret to stretching is being intentional and consistent. Because there are more benefits to stretching than just relief. In this article, we will go through some stretching tips for beginners and look into its many benefits for the body.

The Benefits Of Stretching

The benefits of stretching extend (pun intended) to other aspects of life, like health and productivity. These are some of the benefits associated with stretching:

Stretching improves circulation.

Stretching regularly increases the flow of blood to your muscles. With improved circulation, your body is less sore. When muscles have more oxygen and nutrients because of excellent circulation, they speed up their healing properties.

Stretching improves poor posture.

If you have bad posture habits like slouching, a good stretch now and then makes you more aware of and improves your posture in the process. Stretching certain muscles also encourage alignment, giving you a better sense of balance.

Stretching helps relieve stress.

Stress often causes tense muscles, which can be quickly alleviated with the help of a
good stretch. Muscles on the upper back and shoulders are common areas for tightened
muscles that need a regular stretch.

Stretching makes you perform better in physical activities.

Physical activities are not confined to sports. Every time you are out and about, you add
strain to your muscles through lifting and other everyday activities. Stretching makes
you more productive by preparing your muscles for the physical activities for the day.

Stretching prevents back pain.

For people plagued with back pain because of sitting long hours behind a desk or any
strenuous work, stretching is an excellent way to loosen already tight back muscles or
relieve any existing back pain.

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Types Of Stretching

The two common types of stretching are static and dynamic.

Static

This type of stretching requires holding yourself in a position for 10 seconds or more and is usually done after an exercise. It is also commonly referred to as a cold down.

Dynamic

This type of stretching requires active movements that stretch your muscles at brief moments at a time, usually to prepare your muscles for movement. This is commonly referred to as a warm-up.

Stretching For Beginners: 3 Basic Yoga Movements

Yoga is known to many for its stretches, although the discipline is more than just the poses you see on social media.

But as a beginner, yoga is one of the best ways to stretch with intention and consistency, mainly because it is treated as a journey. The stretch only goes as far as you are capable of.

1. Downward dog

This pose requires hands beneath the shoulders and knees beneath
the hips. And as you form a triangle with your body, ensure your butt faces the ceiling
with your thighs contracted and head between the arms.

This is an excellent stretch for the morning to start your day and jumpstart productivity.

2. Child’s pose

This pose requires you to sit over your heels, with your torso resting on
your thighs, head down and arms fully extended in front of you.

This restorative pose opens the shoulder and gives you relief from tension.

3. Triangle pose

This pose requires you to set your feet apart, with one foot positioned at a 90-degree angle. And with your arms stretched, shift your weight forward and reach for the foot facing towards the end of your mat, with arms still fully extended, and face towards the sky.

This pose stretches the hamstrings, hips, and spine, to name a few.

These three basic yoga poses are excellent stretching methods for beginners. And with a little consistency, you’ll be doing more advanced stretches in no time.

Conclusion

Stretching is an integral part of yoga because it requires you to open parts of the body containing chakra. And as yoga delves into the practice’s spiritual journey, the practitioner benefits because of improved flexibility and muscle strength–an excellent way to stretch as a beginner.