When should I stretch?
Many trainers tell you to stretch either first thing in the morning or at the end of the day —or both. However, the rule of thumb is that you may stretch any time as long as your muscles are first warmed up (which means you’ve done at least five minutes of walking, hiking, biking, swimming, or calisthenics such as jumping jacks). Warming up your body properly allows you to gradually increase your circulation and get your blood flowing, which in turn makes you more flexible.
Picking a time that’s just right for you, on the other hand, is an entirely different problem. And trying to force yourself into a schedule that doesn’t really work certainly won’t help you to stick with any flexibility program. So it’s best to find a time of day that’s most convenient for you and make that your special time for stretching . . . your body will thank you for the regular routine, and you’ll soon see results.
How often should I stretch a particular muscle?
To increase flexibility in a muscle, generally you should stretch that muscle at least once a day. Elite athletes stretch even more than that — two to three times a day. But being realistic, the majority of people aren’t professional athletes (and aren’t getting paid the big bucks to stay stretched and fit), so finding the time to stretch that much can be difficult. If you want to increase your present level of flexibility, engage in a focused flexibility program every other day to give your body a chance to rest and rejuvenate in between sessions. And when this pace of stretching becomes comfortable for you, maintain your new range of motion by stretching four to five times a week.
How long should I hold each stretch?
Studies demonstrate that the optimum effectiveness of a stretching exercise is reached after holding that stretch for approximately 30 seconds. If you stretch less, you don’t really give your muscles time to fully lengthen and adapt to the exercise; stretching longer hasn’t been proven to provide any additional benefits either. So stick with the 30-second rule, which equates to four to five slow, deep breaths.
Many trainers tell you to stretch either first thing in the morning or at the end of the day —or both. However, the rule of thumb is that you may stretch any time as long as your muscles are first warmed up (which means you’ve done at least five minutes of walking, hiking, biking, swimming, or calisthenics such as jumping jacks). Warming up your body properly allows you to gradually increase your circulation and get your blood flowing, which in turn makes you more flexible.
Picking a time that’s just right for you, on the other hand, is an entirely different problem. And trying to force yourself into a schedule that doesn’t really work certainly won’t help you to stick with any flexibility program. So it’s best to find a time of day that’s most convenient for you and make that your special time for stretching . . . your body will thank you for the regular routine, and you’ll soon see results.
How often should I stretch a particular muscle?
To increase flexibility in a muscle, generally you should stretch that muscle at least once a day. Elite athletes stretch even more than that — two to three times a day. But being realistic, the majority of people aren’t professional athletes (and aren’t getting paid the big bucks to stay stretched and fit), so finding the time to stretch that much can be difficult. If you want to increase your present level of flexibility, engage in a focused flexibility program every other day to give your body a chance to rest and rejuvenate in between sessions. And when this pace of stretching becomes comfortable for you, maintain your new range of motion by stretching four to five times a week.
How long should I hold each stretch?
Studies demonstrate that the optimum effectiveness of a stretching exercise is reached after holding that stretch for approximately 30 seconds. If you stretch less, you don’t really give your muscles time to fully lengthen and adapt to the exercise; stretching longer hasn’t been proven to provide any additional benefits either. So stick with the 30-second rule, which equates to four to five slow, deep breaths.
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