Increase your Flexibility with Stretching and Massage

Stretching is that dreaded activity that everyone avoids but can be a simple activity for getting in tune with your body and reducing your risk of injury and even disease.

Taking 5-10 minutes a day can help increase your flexibility which is the key to strength. If a muscle is tight it is weak. The tight fibers are basically stuck together being tight and not firing the way that they should be.

It is especially important to stretch after any type of exercise because what exercise is doing is shortening the muscles. A short muscle is a weak muscle. A short muscle is also a tight muscle. The two make for an interesting combination that could lead to more severe conditions or injuries. It can be helpful to also stretch after a day of sitting at your desk as sitting for prolonged periods does the same thing - shortens your muscles.

While stretching can help reduce your chance of injury we often just stretch within our limits. A misaligned posture will also influence the effectiveness of the stretch.

Getting regular massage can help align the body and improve it's flexibility and enhance your stretching routine.

It is really like anything else. Can you imagine if we were taught to stretch just like we are taught to brush our teeth? We wouldn't have to think about it at all!

See these articles on Stretching:

Why Should I stretch?

Stretching for Injury Rehab - Learn to Stretch to rehabilitate pulled muscles

If you are like most and don't like to stretch, getting regular massage can help to make up for it in some ways.