You have just finished your workout, feeling exhausted and proud of yourself, your ready to grab your gym bag and head home! But what so many of us don’t realize is the importance of what you do after you work out. Taking a few minutes after your workout to cool down and stretch is so vital for your muscle strength and recovery! And don’t forget to hydrate! Here are 6 reasons why taking a few minutes to stretch is really beneficial!
1. Improves posture.
Stretching the muscles of the lower back, shoulders and chest will help keep your back in better alignment and improve your posture. When you loosen up those muscles it helps to lengthen and relax your muscles enabling your spine to hold better posture! This is especially important if you sit behind a desk all day.
2. Helps reduce or manage stress.
When you stretch out your muscles you’re relieving tension and stiffness and allowing your body to relax. This helps our bodies to release the build up stress we may carry from a long day.
3. Promotes circulation.
Stretching encourages and increases the blood flow to muscles and joints, this also helps to allow oxygen and nutrients from the blood to reach all the different muscles in our bodies! When we work out our bodies naturally produce lactic acid, which can often times lead to muscle soreness and fatigue. By increasing and promoting circulation we can prevent the excess buildup of lactic acid in our muscles and in turn minimize that sore feeling!
4. Faster Recovery.
After a tough workout the next day you may feel too exhausted to hit the gym! When we stretch it encourages faster recovery times. Muscle soreness is one of the reasons that many people skip the gym! Stretching helps improve your range of motion, which may also slow the degeneration of the joints.
5. Good for your Thoracic Spine.
Keeping your thoracic spine, which is located in the middle of your back, loose and flexible is extremely important. When the thoracic spine becomes tight it can create problems through out the entire back. If you feel tightness in your upper or lower back this could be due to a tight thoracic spine. Simple rotational stretched throughout the day can be extremely beneficial, especially if you sit a lot while working.
6. Better Balance.
Stretching helps to encourage length and strength and this can help us to achieve better balance. When we are tight and carrying tension, this causes our bodies to be out of alignment and can have an effect on our balance. Take the time to stretch and watch your balance improve!
Take a few moments after your workout and let your mind have a chance to tune in to how your body is feeling. As you breath through each stretch this gives you the opportunity to pay attention to any aches and pains you may be feeling! Stretching and cool down is an important aspect of your workout routine and really prepares your mind and body for your next workout!