Morris County NJ Personal Trainer Gives 6 Reasons Why You Must Stretch:

"I never stretch, I don't have enough time and I can't be bothered lying around all over the floor stretching when I am in a hurry to go to work from the gym?"
This is an e mail I received yesterday while getting my hair cut from one of my twitter's followers. There a lot of reasons People blow off stretching. One being that many people are pressed for time. With just an hour to get in and out of the gym. Most people devote their time to what they feel delivers the most beneficial results: "Calorie burn".

Why Stretch?
Stretching is key to bringing oxygen, blood flow, mobility and flexibility back to tied muscles, and it helps to metabolize by-products for quickly recovery. If you neglect to stretch, over time, bad posture, tighter lower back, tight hamstrings and hips.
Never stretch an injured muscle , it is important that you allow the appropriate amount of time for healing.

It does not have to involve a huge time commitment, but stretching can end up giving you huge results! Here are eight benefits you can expect from a regular stretching program:

1) May reduce your risk of injury.
A flexible muscle is less likely to become injured from a slightly extensive movement. By increasing the range of motion in a particular joint through stretching, you may decrease the resistance on your muscles during various activities.

2) Helps relieve post-exercise aches and pains.
After a hard workout, stretching the muscles will keep them loose and lessen a shortening and tightening effect that can lead to post-workout aches and pains.

3) Improves posture.
Stretching the muscles of the lower back, shoulders and chest will help keep your back in better alignment and improve your posture.

4) Helps reduce or manage stress.
Well-stretched muscles hold less tension and, therefore, leave you feeling less stressed.

5) Promotes circulation. Stretching increases blood supply to the muscles and joints that allow for greater nutrient transportation and improves the circulation of blood through the entire body.

6) Decreases the risk of low-back pain. Flexibility in the hamstrings, hip flexors and muscles attached to the pelvis relieves stress on the lumbar spine which in turn reduces the risk of low-back pain.

Now Which Ones?

There a re many stretching techniques out there that you'll know what to do with. Here is a brief breakdown of some of my favorite techniques:

Dynamic:

Dynamic stretching uses speed of movement, momentum and active muscular effort to bring about a stretch.

Arms circles, exaggerating a kicking action and walking lunges (without weights) are examples of dynamic stretches. A walking lunge dynamically stretches the hip flexors by emphasizing hip extension and can reduce muscle tightness around the hip joint necessary for competition.

Static:

Static stretching involves reaching forward to a point of tension and holding the stretch. I have used static stretching through out the years for two main reasons: injury prevention and performance enhancement. Do these at the end of a work out or sports activity, after the muscles have warmed up.

Myofascial:

Fascia is a specialized connective tissue layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints and gives support and protection to the body.
Self myofascial release techniques (SMRT), although not new, have become more and more prominent amongst athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. Both allopathic and alternative Therapists have embraced the use of myofascial release massage to reduce chronic pain and rehabilitate a range of injuries. Some therapists claim a long list of benefits, from curing tennis elbow to IBS relief. While some claims may be contentious, it seems likely that many sports men and women can benefit from this regenerative therapy.

Follow these combinations of stretching techniques (see below) and start feeling great today:
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