Health / Sport
Stretching time
Hands up – to the sky – do you cool down after exercise?
I don’t mean that token hamstring stretch after your run, or that 30 second period between finishing your workout and hitting the shower, where you half-heartedly grapple your foot behind you whilst simultaneously hopping on one leg and trying desperately to maintain a) your balance and b) your composure.
No, I mean stretch. Really stretch.
We perform contraction after contraction when we exercise and this can lead to a gradual shortening of the muscles. We need to counteract this by elongating and stretching them to avoid poor posture and injury.
is needed now More than ever
Each muscle in our body is attached in some way to our skeleton. Now imagine say, your hamstrings, which are attached to your pelvis, gradually tighten and become shortened. Over time, they will pull and tilt your pelvis, which will in turn round your low back and before you know it, you’re unable to bend without feeling like a 90-year old with crippling back pain.
Rather than relegating it to a five minute slot tagged on the end of a workout, give stretching the glory it deserves and let it take a place as a workout in its own right.
If you’re doing a lot of exercise, try and put aside 30 minutes or so each week to forget the sweat, forget the heart pumping and just focus on treating your muscles to a good lengthening session. Better still, get along to a Yoga or Pilates class, where you can learn techniques to maximise your stretch session through breathing and relaxation.
If you’re used to the adrenaline-pumping, heart-thumping type of exercise – and why not? It certainly does feel good – you might shun this more gentle approach but you’ll thank yourself when you’re saving on costly physio bills. You can even treat yourself to that new yoga mat you’ve had your eye on.
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