The Top 5 Benefits of S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G

Do you stretch before you exercise? If not, you should start!

We know it’s tempting to dive right into your routine, especially when your schedule is tight. But stretching before you work out at our Pittsburgh gym promotes many health benefits.

Read on to discover the importance of stretching — and a few tips on how to properly prepare for your workout.

Major Gains

Contrary to what you might think, stretching isn’t a waste of your gym time. Loosening up tight muscles before exercise of any kind allows your body a chance to ease into the activity. The benefits of stretching include:

1. It decreases your risk of injury.
2. It improves your range of motion.
3. It increases your blood flow and circulation.
4. It helps improve your posture.
5. It helps you relax and de-stress.

Next time you tune in to a sporting event, watch how the athletes spend time warming up. Stretching before exercise increases blood flow, which delivers the oxygen and nutrients that fuel your muscles. It also increases flexibility in your muscles and joints, which improves performance and helps prevent injury.

A Good Warm Up

There are a few things to keep in mind when stretching before exercise:

• First, warm up your muscles with some light activity before stretching. This could include walking or jogging in place for a few minutes.
• Next, focus on dynamic stretches rather than static stretches. Dynamic stretches involve moving your body through a full range of motion, such as lunges or arm circles. Static stretches, on the other hand, involve holding a position for a period of time.
• Finally, don’t forget to breathe! Deep breathing helps to relax your muscles and improve your stretch.

So, next time you’re at the gym, be kind to your body and take time to stretch before jumping in. It’s a good idea to do the same (aka cool down) after exercise too!