This is what stretching every day does to your body
Stretching every day offers far more benefits than just the ability to touch your toes. It doesn’t just affect the muscles you target during the exercises; if you loosen one part of your body, other parts often loosen as well. For example, doing exercises that improve flexibility in your shoulders can also relieve tension and stiffness in your neck. In this article, we’ll tell you what a daily, consistent stretching routine does to your body.
It improves your circulation
By stretching you stimulate the blood flow to your muscles, including the muscles that you often (too) little use. Improved circulation helps to transport the right nutrients to your muscles, making them better able to recover. And stretching also promotes blood flow to your brain, which in turn has a positive influence on your concentration and mental performance.
You activate your parasympathetic nervous system
Stretching activates your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the “rest and digest” state. This sends a signal to your body and mind that it is time to relax. And that calm, focused and calm feeling can last for the rest of the day.
You lengthen your muscles
This one is obvious, but needs to be mentioned nonetheless. By lengthening your muscles, you gradually become more flexible and agile. Stretching every day ensures that both your muscles and your brain remember that state. Muscle memory is real!
You compensate for the effects of sitting
There are very few people today who don’t sit too much. By stretching every day you can compensate for the effects of sitting, even if you don’t have much time to really exercise, or when you can’t do sports because of an injury, for example.
Endorphins are released
Just like running or an intense workout, stretching also releases endorphins. These neurotransmitters, also called happiness hormones, not only make you feel happy, but also have a calming, reassuring, pain suppressing and resistance-increasing effect.
Well, these should be enough reasons to convince you to make every day stretching a habit!
Love,
Team FITSHE
