Do This If You Want To Improve Your Flexibility
Being flexible isn't just for gymnasts and yoga instructors. It can also help you recover from workouts more quickly and reduce your risk of injury.
"Tight muscles can cause undue strain on the neighboring joints during normal daily function, or they themselves can become injured," Sasha Cyrelson, D.P.T., a clinical director at Professional Physical Therapy in Sicklerville, New Jersey, told Self. "We need to take an active role in maintaining and improving the length of our muscles so we can continue to enjoy our abilities without pain."
Improving your flexibility is a slow process that takes a little time each day. According to Bustle, a stretching routine can be as easy as performing a few stretches per day for a few minutes. You'll find the most benefits by combining dynamic stretches and static stretches in your routine. Dynamic stretches are active movements that improve your flexibility without holding specific positions for long periods of time. Static stretches are movements that hold muscles in an extended position for a period of time.
Staying active and consistent is key to becoming more flexible
"It's absolutely possible to become more flexible, and it really comes down to consistency and routine," Keren Day, DC, founder of Racked Stretch, told Well + Good.
Certain stretches will target specific parts of the body. If you have tight shoulders, you can stand in a doorway, bend your elbows, and lean your hands on the doorway to open up your chest and shoulders. Hold for 30 seconds at a time. If you have tight hip flexors, you can lie on your back and pull one knee toward yourself until you feel a stretch in the hip flexor area. Hold for two to four seconds at a time.
According to Healthline, learning how to breathe properly can also help you become more flexible. Diaphragmatic breathing is a way to practice fully engaging the stomach, abdominal muscles, and diaphragm in every breath. You can practice diaphragmatic breathing by placing your hands on your stomach and breathing deeply while working to engage all the muscles in your core.