Have you ever watched a small child twist her body into a pretzel and been amazed at her flexibility? It seems the older we get the less flexible we become. As each year passes, our toes seem further away and the likelihood of pulling a muscle — or herniating a disc — by moving a certain way increases exponentially.
Does it really have to be like that?
How about those 80 year-old Yogis that can also twist themselves into every position under the sun? How do they do that? Well, Yoga is, inherently, a stretching routine that is practiced almost daily by devotees. And stretching is one of the fundamental pillars of an active lifestyle.
Well, you say, I think Yoga is ridiculous. You won’t see me doing all those weird gyrations!!
That’s OK. Yoga is not for everyone, but stretching is. You just need to find a routine that works for you and to take it slowly. There is an infinite amount of online information about stretching — including a wide array of stretching DVDs. Almost anybody can make stretching part of their daily fitness routine. Consult with your doctor to determine what is right for you and then get started!
Flexibility increases over time. As you embark on a stretching routine you’ll need to tune in to how your body responds to various stretches and discover where you are least flexible. Then, be patient with yourself. Though you may never reach the Yogi level, gradually, as you develop your routine, your flexibility will increase.
After 40, the amount of elastin in the body decreases. Elastin is a specialized protein that keeps skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissue flexible. As a result, muscles are less limber and soreness after exercise is more common. Adding stretching to your fitness routine may decrease these problems. And, especially for women, stretching can increase the effectiveness of strength training.*
Active By Choice offers Medi-Dyne products for stretching:
http://www.activebychoice.com/stretching-products.aspx
And if the Yogis inspire you, we’ve also got a Yoga Kit to help you get started:
http://www.activebychoice.com/sunny-health-and-fitness-yoga-kit.aspx
*Source: Prevention
Note: Active By Choice seeks to inform our customers on the latest research and trends for fitness products. We don’t provide medical advice or recommend our products for specific medical conditions. We suggest you discuss the information we provide, and the use of our products, with your physician.
