Stretching Improves Health

Daily stretching and exercise improves your flexibilty.  Stretching exercises should be performed for a minimum of 5-7 minutes before  and after exercise.  Stretching before your exercise gets your  muscles warmed up and ready for the work out.  Stretching after your exercise helps relax and stretch out any tightness from the exercise.  It also helps cool down the body, while your heart rate and blood pressure  returns to normal.

Stretching  keeps muscles supple, increasing range of motion of joints, enhancing flexibility, improving coordination, increasing body temperature and heart rate, increasing blood flow to muscles and preventing injuries.

The right way to stretch is slow and relaxed. DO NOT BOUNCE. Stretching too quickly and over stretching can actually cause you to pull the muscle you are trying to stretch. 

You should stretch to the point of "MILD TENSION". If you overstretch you will also cause damage. Back off if the stretch feels painful.  I was given neck stretches to do by a chiropractor and overstretched and ended up with a stiff neck for days.  Take it easy.

Hold the stretch for a minimum of  10-15 seconds each, without bouncing. BREATHE slowly and naturally. Do not hold your breathe while stretching. Relax the stretch. Stretch one or two more times with each stretch. Try to stretch a little further with each stretch. Again, only to the point of mild tension.

I always start my day with a series of simple stretches.  Think about it.  Have your ever observed an animal after it wakes up.  It stretches it's whole body.  We can learn from them.

You can begin by stretching in your bed before you get out.  Just stretch your arms to the head of the bed while stretching your toes to the bottom of the bed and hold  to the count of 5 - 10 seconds.

Get out of bed and reach to the ceiling while rising up on your toes.  You can also do this in a doorway and hold onto the frame if needed.  Then bend and touch your toes.  Stand up straight, shoulders back, reach your hands behind your back and grasp and just slowly stretch and feel the pull.  To finish up, do gentle neck stretches, hold to each side for a few seconds, then front, then back and to finish it off,  looking straight ahead move your head back like you are bringing your chin to your neck ( sort of like a turtle bringing it's head back into it's shell).  Feels wonderful.

Start your day with this....it only takes a minute or two and you will definitely start your day feeling great !!

Healthy Blessings,
Barbara Arbster
www.BarbaraArbster.com
724-727-3547 Eastern


The content of this article is intended "for educational purposes only" and should not be construed as medical advice.  Individual results will vary. As required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
"These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."  Disclaimer: Do not take Holy Tea or Coral Complex 3 as a substitute for medical treatment. Always follow the advice of your personal physician.