Hate stretching? Well, I don’t blame you. Its tedious. Its boring. It feels like forever. Did I say it was boring? I get it and don’t blame you. I am not here to make you love stretching. If you ask most people they will tell you that they don’t like it, but its just that the pros outweigh the cons, so it makes sense for people to incorporate in their routine. What are things you should ask yourself why stretching shouldn’t be something you hate.
If the answer is yes, then you have to do it more often.
First, does it make you feel better? If the answer is yes, then you have to do it more often. Not just once and forget about it. I know when I sit for a long period of time, I need to stretch my IT band. Also, I know by addressing the tightness it will help me move better. This promotes me to stretch because I know by doing so, my legs get looser. So if you know it makes you feel better, why aren’t you doing it more often?
Secondly, is the benefits of stretching associated with injuries. If you are dealing with one, you are constantly reminded to stretch. “You are tight here. You NEED to stretch. This is WHY that HAPPENED.” Now you can’t hate because you can’t exercise and rest/stretching becomes a priority. It is only when people are in pain that stretching is incorporated. Don’t wait until it happens, be proactive and stretch daily so the body is moving better. If you keep increasing your activity and don’t take care of it by resting and stretching, it’s like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. You never know when you’re invited to play basketball, softball, football, and you decide to play and BAM! Pulled groin. Pulled hamstring. Out for months.
Could this been prevented? Maybe.
This is a true story that happened to one of my friends. He never stretched and played a lot of basketball and tennis. Two sports that involve a lot of forward and back and side-to-side movements. Never stretched his calves or hamstrings, then one day BAM! Tore Achilles. Out for a year. Could this been prevented? Its really hard to say, but would have helped had he stretched his calves and hamstrings. Again, the moral of the story is to be proactive before something bad happens.
Lastly, is to make it part of your routine. People that incorporate stretching are those that have a set time they stretch. Whether it be first thing in the morning, middle of the day, or when they come home after a long day. Just like how you brush your teeth everyday, the same can be done to take care of your body. Make it more of a habit, then you will be more inclined to do it.
Stretching (at least for me) isn’t something I look forward to. I do it because it helps me do the things I love, such as running, lifting, jumping, playing sports. Also to prevent injuries is enough information for me to stretch on a daily basis. Now go stretch your shoulders and neck after reading this blog! Hah. Hope you liked this week’s blog. Stay tuned for more next Wed………………………..Kei