There is nothing worse than rolling out of bed and wishing you could lie there permanently because none of your limbs are moving. Or worse, you wince in pain when they finally do shift from side to side. You quickly realize that your body refuses to cooperate.
You figure once you get into the steam and hot shower, that all will be well, but alas, sitting down to eat breakfast only brings more stiffness and misery.
For millions of people, this is what daily living is about. Oddly, it is taken for granted that as each day goes by, we should have more limited mobility. Everyone says that is what happens as the body ages.
The reality is unless we have some legitimate medical issue that prevents us from tackling our chores, hobbies and extra-curricular activities, we should not be suffering from all these aches and pains.
Yes, we all have reasons for not being able to do things, and those reasons may seem valid when we tell others about them. On the other hand, what if we could dispense with those reasons, or work with the problems instead of against them?
All of us would be much better off thanks to stretching exercises for improved flexibility.
How To Become Flexible If You Are Very Stiff?
Many people equate stiffness with getting old. We refute that statement completely.
- First of all, at what age do you suddenly become old? Is there a set number we should watch out for?
- Who says that you have to acquiesce to this train of thought? Why can’t we carry on with our activities much like we have been doing all these years?
So before we move on, let’s all agree that we don’t become stiff because we are getting old.
Yes, it may get harder to do as much as we did when we were younger. And, yes if we lead sedentary lifestyles, it is going to be very difficult to move without becoming stiff.
We can, however, continue to enjoy life’s delights when we set aside some time for stretches to gain flexibility in legs, hips and back.
Now, having said that, please make sure that if you have some condition that requires medical treatment, you do get the doctor’s approval before starting any regimen.
Stiffness in the body comes from many activities. If you haven’t used certain muscles in a while, then they will not like it once you start doing something that keeps hammering away at the muscle or joint.
Likewise, if you have moved the wrong way when stretching for an object in a cupboard or high on a shelf, your arm might feel stiff because it is over-extended.
If you went to a party, and decided to dance, maybe you got over-zealous, and twisted a little too much, and now your waist is sore and tight.
How many times have you worn flat shoes like sandals or flip flops and the next day the backs of your legs are killing you? Continually changing the height of your heels, like high heels to flats, will definitely cause stiffness in the legs and hips. The muscles and tendons don’t know which shape or length you want them to be.
So, you can see that even normal things you would never think of cause stiffness. Stretching counteracts this cycle of contracting and expanding muscles.
Just a few repetitions a day of simple stretching will make all the difference in how you feel and how you move. As time passes, your body will start to crave the stretches, and you’ll find that not only are you less stiff, but that your body feels much happier.
Finally, this may sound really funny to you, but when you are stiff, your body is lopsided. Because of the discomfort, you favor one position over another. That means your body is not aligned and its elements are not in sync.
Stretches To Gain Flexibility In Legs
Sitting too long is hard on the tailbone, back and legs. Add some slouching or hunching over, and now you have a body that wants some serious stretching.
You notice it the most when you get up from the chair. You actually need to hold onto the chair’s arms to pull yourself to a standing position. The whole time you are groaning about how hard it is to move.
You don’t realize the cumulative affect of sitting hours on end in the wrong position. Whether you do this by choice while watching television, or you sit at a desk all day, you do need to take some time to perform a few stretches to gain flexibility in the legs.
It’s pretty ironic that while you are sitting, you could be doing those stretches to help your muscles and joints. Just standing up more often and reaching for the sky with your arms and toes can help.
Stretches To Gain Flexibility In Hips
Your hips rotate and pivot your body for most movements. They are huge joints that require strength for optimal performance.
And while arthritis, bursitis, fractured hips, and other ailments reduce our ability to use the hips properly, we can recover by making the hips stronger with stretches. It’s important to build up the surrounding area including the muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Further, the hips hold nerves which carry signals such as pain and temperature to the brain. Blood vessels exist, as well to carry blood to your legs and feet.
If any of these parts are damaged or only slightly injured, you can see how difficult it is for the body to move.
When you look at each part of the hip individually, and understand the role each part plays in the body’s overall performance, you realize the importance of stretching exercises for improved flexibility.
Stretches To Improve Your Back Flexibility
More people seem to suffer from backaches and back problems than seems possible. While the back is a very strong piece of the body, it is at the same time very fragile, and can be hurt quite easily.
It is no wonder there are classes specifically demonstrating how to lift heavy items, and how to avoid injuring one’s back.
One of the simplest stretches to enhance back flexibility is Dog-To-Cobra. It sounds more complicated than it is.
- Lie flat out on a mat or directly on the floor stomach facing down.
- Pull up on all fours like a dog
- Stretch your head to the ceiling with your hands on the mat. Your lower body does not move.
- Hold your pose for a few seconds
- Now, you have moved from looking like a dog to looking like a cobra.
You can feel the stretch in your back and your neck, but it should not hurt. In fact, when doing this stretch, each movement should be nice and gentle. The movement flows. It is not quick and jerky.
If you can manage it, you can graduate to grabbing your ankles and pulling up your legs at the back. You will be in a rocking position. But this one is much harder and you need to be flexible to try this one.
One important point to understand when performing stretching exercises for improved flexibility in the back, is that, you do what you can.
Continue everyday trying to get just a bit higher, and finally, you will be lean and limber like the cobra you are imitating.
You can really see how stretching helps your total general fitness and well-being. To understand what type of stretching is most recommended for general fitness purposes, why not have a look over here?
Final Thoughts on Stretching Exercises for Improved Flexibility
If you have been struggling to do everyday tasks, or you feel you are not up to doing your hobbies, or playing games like tennis, golf, or badminton, you really owe it to yourself to start stretching.
Reach for and enjoy that new lease on life by starting a routine of stretching exercises for improved flexibility.
Rejoin your friends and family for the things you love doing.
