A fitness lesson your pet teaches daily?

Our pets teach a fitness lesson everyday…

All we have to do is watch and learn!

What do you see your dog or cat do every time they get up?

They stretch.

My uncle says, “The more flexible we are, the less bent out of shape we will get”.

I love this saying because it applies to life as well.

Are you stretching frequently?

Flexibility has always been the area of fitness in which I have spent the least amount of time.

When I was running more and putting in lots of miles each week I was stretching more.

Even then I did not have the flexibility that I needed, especially my low back, hips and hamstrings.

Now that I am in my fifties, it is more evident that I need to make this more of a priority.

Adding flexibility exercises is easier than you might think.

It is not as important to do static (isometric type) flexibility exercises before working out. A more dynamic type of stretching routine that focuses on taking muscles through range of motion at a controlled pace is more effective at warming up the tissues and preparing the body for activity.

Many of our issues with posture and flexibility are caused by our less active lifestyles. We spend far too much time sitting.

Having sufficient flexibility is important because it:

  • improves posture

  • improves balance

  • Reduces the chance of injury when performing activity and even with accidents and slips, trips and falls.

  • is relaxing and can be combined with reducing stress, clearing the mind and unplugging from technology

  • reduces pain

  • reduces the risk of low back injury

Below are several ideas for adding in flexibility exercises to your daily activity.

  • find a time of day when you can spend 15-30 minutes or more performing flexibility exercises.

  • Instead of sitting on the couch all of the time to watch TV or to read, use this time to sit on the floor and perform stretches.

  • During times of prolonged sitting, especially at work, take a break once an hour to stand and move around a little to break up that seated posture. Do an overhead reach, roll the shoulders and maybe perform a couple of side bends to help.

  • After performing exercise or other activity (when muscles are good and warm) stretch the hamstrings, calves, upper back, quadiriceps (thigh muscles) and chest for just a couple of minutes.

  • Before playing golf or any other type of ballistic activity, perform a specific warm-up and flexibility routine.

See this link https://www.self.com/gallery/essential-stretches-slideshow for some ideas on stretches to perform. Start with picking a few with which to start and gradually add more as time allows. Modify any stretch. Contact me with any questions about modification.

When performing stretches, mild discomfort (in a good way) is expected and ok, severe pain means too much stress is on the tissues. Hold stretches for 15-60 seconds and repeat. Work on areas most where you have the least flexibility. For me it is my low back, hamstrings and hips.

Enjoy this time.

I hope you can pick out some time, 15 minutes to an hour several days per week to increase your flexibility, unplug, help your posture and just feel better.

Where do you experience the most lack of flexibility? Share it in the comments.

Let me know if I can help.

Kelly williamsComment