Did you know these 4 elements of a daily stretching routine?
by Cascade Ice on November 13, 2020
Working out and eating healthy are the fundamentals of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing your weight, and everyone seems to understand that these are necessary to stay healthy. However, one often overlooked aspect of health is flexibility, which is maintained through daily stretching.
Most people think that they don’t have time to carve out in their day for stretching, or that it’s simply not important. But research has shown that stretching can help improve flexibility, as well as your overall range of motion. This can have a significant impact on your ability to stay active long term. And, it can take as little as 5 minutes a day. Here are the most important elements of a a daily stretching routine:
Before vs. After Exercise
It’s most important to do a dynamic warm up before physical activity. This could include body weight squats, walking lunges, and even pushups. You don’t want to hold stretches for a long period of time before your body is warmed up. After your workout is complete, try some side bends, shoulder stretches and hamstring stretches and hold each of them for at least 30 seconds each. This will help move the lactic acid through your muscles and increase your range of motion.
Hit the Big Muscles
When it comes to a daily stretching routine, make sure you’re focusing on the major muscle groups, like the glutes, thighs, hips, back, and shoulders. Make sure you’re also stretching both sides equally to maintain symmetry and steer clear of injury from overuse of one side.
Know when to use caution
Sometimes our muscles can get sore from overuse, or worse – we can get stress fractures. If you have a chronic condition or an injury, adjust your stretching routine to focus on other muscles so as not to aggravate sore or torn muscles. The goal is to establish and maintain a routine that will help you stay in the exercise game for the long haul. Discuss your stretching routine with your medical provider if you have any concerns.
Keep it up!
Stretching doesn’t have to be difficult to fit into your daily routine. What’s more important is not how long you stretch, it’s the regularity at which you perform the stretches. So, aim for 5-6 days each week, especially if you’re exercising regularly. If you skip your stretching routine, you may miss key benefits and your flexibility may decrease, making it harder to start again.
One lesser-known tip to help with your body’s flexibility? Water! Increased water intake has been shown to contribute to overall mobility and body relaxation. If you get bored with regular water, try Cascade Ice Sparkling Water and our different product lines with zero sugar, calories or gluten. Trust us, you’ll never get bored with all the flavor combinations we offer!
What’s your favorite way to stretch? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
