Flexibilty Challenge

So you want to improve your flexibility? It takes patience, practice, and just a few minutes a day to become more limber and flexible.

What is Flexibility?

Flexibility is the ability of your joints to move in their full range of motion, which means being able to function as needed in your day-to-day activities like bending, walking, lifting, stooping, etc. But, flexibility and muscle elasticity decrease with age, so it’s important to maintain flexibility throughout our lives.

Why Flexibility Is Important

A flexible body is less prone to injury, aches, pains, and loss of mobility as we age. Flexible muscles recover faster from exercise or hard physical training such as training for an endurance race or chasing after your kids. Loss of flexibility can lead to changes in posture and muscle function and affect your joint range of motion. In other words, stuff won’t work the same if you don’t stay limber and stretch!

Exercises That Improve Flexibility

Stretching regularly is the best way to improve flexibility. You can stretch at work and at home, and should always stretch before and after exercise.

Yoga can also improve flexibility, as well as providing great benefits for your body and mind. 

Stretching Tips

·       Move in slow, gradual movements to avoid straining your muscles.

·       Resist the urge to bounce or pulse while stretching, as this can cause damage to your muscles.

·       Hold stretches gently, to the point of challenge but not pain, for at least 30 seconds.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Start by practicing the stretches we did in your assessment, and gradually increase the amount of time you spend stretching each day. Before long, you’ll see and feel improvement!