fitness, sport and healthy lifestyle concept - group of people doing yoga seated spinal twist pose in gym or studio

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We’ve probably all gotten the “you should really be stretching every day” lecture, and I hate to make you sit through another one; BUT – here’s why you really should be stretching everyday:

Benefits of Stretching

  • Flexibility
  • Range of Motion
  • Increased Blood Flow
  • Pain Relief
  • Stress Relief

Stretching Routine

If you’ve been struggling to feel motivated in terms of fitness or movement in general, stretching can be a great place to start. Your stretching routine does not have to do 30 minutes long. You don’t have to do a ton of stretches. Make it doable, for you, your time, your schedule. You want to stick to it, so don’t make it overly complex.

  1. Go slow at first. You’ll want to feel out the stretches to figure out what feels easy, too hard, or just right.
  2. Start with 10-20 minutes. This is a good range to get in a good stretch, but if you want to take your time with it, feel free.
  3. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds and avoid bouncing.
  4. Find the right stretches for you. Take a moment to look up stretches for “lower back” or “hamstrings”–whatever areas you know are more tight or prone to feeling sore than others. Once you’ve got a list of about 10 stretches, there’s your routine.

**If you currently have a current or persistent injury, stretching has the capability to make it worse, so listen to your body and don’t over-do it.

Written by GUADS staff member Toni with contributions from www.healthline.com