A More Flexible You In 2019

by Neighborhood Trainers Finding a trainer is a personal choice

Many people want to become more flexible, but they don’t always know exactly why they need increased flexibility. Is it because they have suffered from an injury? Is it because everyone talks about being flexible? Is it to reduce pain from joints and muscles while doing everyday activities? All of these reasons are more or less valid, but many still fail to stretch before or after workout routines.

Flexibility has the added bonus of giving you more mobility, which is the range in which muscles can move. Increased mobility leads to much stronger muscles and less chance of injury during strenuous exercises. It will also make it easier to do things like play with children or bend over to get things that have fallen.

There are different types of stretches that can be done to improve flexibility and reduce the chance of injury occurring. Static stretching is the most common type, often implemented in yoga postures. It requires the individual to move joints to their maximum range of motion and hold the pose for a certain number of seconds. A yoga Brooklyn studio can provide classes that train the joints in flexibility and build strength within the body.

Another type of stretching technique is dynamic stretching. This form of stretching increases the flow of blood to muscle and connective tissues. Brooklyn Pilates classes use this type of stretching during sessions, giving you increased flexibility.

Static stretching is best when done after working out to cool the muscles down, while dynamic stretching is more beneficial when it is done before a workout. This is because dynamic stretches improve overall performance when done correctly, so you can stronger and faster while you’re in the zone.

You don’t have to sit in a dark room with candles and soothing music playing over the speakers. It is actually recommended that you do yoga or Pilates routines somewhere fun, like in front a TV or in a studio with an energetic instructor. This keeps exercise interesting, so you don’t get bored and give up on flexibility training a week or two in.

Another tip is to successful stretching sessions is to move around. There is no requirement to stiffly hold yoga postures until it is time to let them go, instead move and wiggle around a little. Breathe into the areas that feel tight and shake your head from side to side a little to loosen the neck.

Flexibility is about your comfort in life, as it makes it easier to perform almost all of life’s small tasks.