Every year, we see the release of new fitness trends. In the past, we’ve seen the explosion of trends like SoulCycle, Zumba, CrossFit, and even hula hooping! This year is no different. A new fitness trend is slowly emerging, but we’re sure you’ll be hearing and seeing more of it as the year goes on.
The good news is that this fitness trend isn’t complicated, doesn’t require a gym membership, and actually isn’t as much of a trend as it is an essential part of health.
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We’re talking about stretching, and believe it or not, specific boutique fitness clubs are emerging specifically around it.
Maybe you don’t stretch much, or perhaps you only stretch at the end of a workout. Stretching is an essential way for your body to recover along with promoting good health. Stretching helps improve muscles by increasing blood flow around the body. It allows for a greater range of motion, which can reduce the risk of injury.
Lisa Schneider of TriBeCa stretch studio explained, “I think most of us forget what it feels like to feel good. We get so caught up in our day-to-day routines in not only work and activities, but how we carry ourselves through the day; we sit hunched over our computers, we cross our legs, we look down at our phones, we rush to our workout class and dive right in. When we don’t address our postural challenges, we set ourselves up for more work-related injuries and sport-related injuries.”
Lack of stretching contributes to shortening of the muscles, which hinders blood flow and reduces flexibility.
Now, we aren’t suggesting you join a specific gym just for stretching, but we are suggesting that you should take more of an effort to incorporate stretching into your life, regardless if you workout or not.
Stretching is associated with better posture and alignment, reduction of injury, improvement of range of motion, reduction of soreness and recovery promotion, and improved productivity and workplace comfort.
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By stretching regularly, you will experience fewer aches and pains as a result of greater blood flow and a reduction in muscle stiffness.
You can start at home, performing yoga or tai chi, or even work with a physiotherapist. If you start incorporating stretching into your daily life, you won’t regret it.
Also read:
- Best Stretching Exercises for Seniors
- Muscle Stretching Improves Blood Flow, Muscle Function in Elderly: Study
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
