Flexibility is the Key to Efficient Movements

Flexibility is the range of movement or amount of motion that a joint is capable of performing. Each joint has a different amount of flexibility but not everyone takes the time to keep their joints moving to their optimum potential. Some of the long term advantages of improved flexibility include a decreased risk of injury, improved range of motion, improved body movement and an improvement in your posture.

Flexibility improves range of motion and body movement, like up steep mountains seen here as Terri climbs to the summit of Pequeno Alpamayo.

Flexibility improves the performance of everyday activities from cleaning your windows to tying your shoes… not to mention your training program! Some benefits include:

• Flexibility reduces stress in the exercising muscles and releases tension developed during your workout.
• Flexibility assists with posture by balancing the tension placed across the joints by the muscles that cross it. Good posture minimizes stress and maximizes the strength of all joint movements.
• Flexibility helps reduce the risk of injury during exercise and daily activities because the muscles are more pliable.

Good flexibility strengthens the muscles to help you stabilize and find better balance.

The perfect time to stretch is after you have completed your workout and your muscles are warm and pliable. Just remember not to compare yourself to others in the stretching area. Everyone has their own structural issues and may be more bendy than you are… so work within your limit and don’t overstretch. It should not be painful! Don’t forget to breath comfortably, exhaling as the muscle lengthens to assist in relaxation. Hold your stretches for at least 20 seconds and never do bouncy (ballistic) stretches.

Enjoy a good stretch after your workout…your muscles will love you for it.