Grinding the Axe

Isn’t it the worst feeling ever when you finally get the courage to go to that Group X workout only to have confidence destroyed because you can’t even touch your toes? I know I’m personally not very flexible and when I can’t even touch my toes it kills me. However there is good news! Stretching as little as ten minutes a day can do wonders for your body, as well as make you look good at your workout!

Stretching improves circulation, range of motion, posture, and your ability to relax.

There are two different forms of stretching - the “warm up” and the “cool down”.

The warm up is important because it helps to raise your body’s temperature before a workout, increases blood flow, promotes oxygen supply to the muscles, and helps prevent injury during an exercise. In addition, stretching puts the body and mind into the right state to help you get the most out of your workout.

The cool down is equally important because it helps prevent blood from rushing to the limbs, prevents the build up of lactic acid (the cause of soreness), and stops the muscles and tendons from becoming tight and stiff.

Now before you run along and start stretching there are a few tips you should know.

1. Balance your stretches. For every stretch on one side equally stretch the other.

2. Avoid over stretching. You should feel a slight pull at the peak of the stretch.

3. Go slow. Stretching should be slow and smooth; pulsing and pushing too far can cause damage to the muscles.

4. Most importantly, don’t forget to breathe! Remember stretching is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable.

If you’re not so sure how to get started with this wonderful activity, Campus Rec offers classes that may give you that extra push you need! Yoga and plyo-pilates classes are great ways to gain flexibility, and it just so happens the Rec Center offers classes Monday through Thursday at a variety of times.

By following these few tips and devoting only ten minutes a day to stretching, you should be able to keep up with the best of them at your workouts! But it is very important to remember that stretching the wrong way can be just as fatal as not stretching at all, but as long as you follow these simple steps you’ll be touching your toes in no time!