Stretching
What’s the word we most associate with extending our imagination? Expand, or was that ‘Stretch?’ Pity we don’t practice it that often for our bodies!!….
Devoid of Oohs and Aahs
In our tryst of finding the best for our body, both in terms of diet as well as exercise, what is most disappointing is the lack of stretching! We all do our aerobics, gym exercises, swimming exercises to the ‘t’ but what we usually tend to neglect is the need for a proper warm out. Most of the times accidents can very well be avoided if the warm up is accurately administered. Ideally every form of exercise has a different effect on one’s body, and warm-ups are nothing but getting you, physically and mentally prepared for the regime that is to follow! Generally every muscular sprain is similar in one way or the other and ninety per cent of the time, following up with a strict note of stretching in your gym is as important as lifting weights.
There are many of us who associate stretching with Yoga. Sure Yoga is one of the many forms of stretching, but not all yoga asasnas are the same. There is a thin line between same and similar, as there is between stretching and Yoga. Yoga is a way of life, the very essence of living life to the fullest. Stretching on the other hand makes your constructive foundation (of your body) a lot stronger and less susceptible to the pulls that you get so often while placing your body under any pressure. Another good reason for all of us to do some simple and basic stretches everyday, is simply because of the sedentary lives that we all live. We seldom realize that sitting on our butts and performing all mid tasks is not what is really expected out of our physical and mental beings. Sitting all day on your computer, clattering and clicking down the eight hours can place a major strain on various parts of our bodies, especially the brain that controls all functions.
It’s Effects
Stretching for one places you in sync with yourself. What I mean by that is that when you begin with your first exercise, you realize that the toe-touching that you thought was a piece of cake, is after all not so easy. Especially not with your well-maintained paunch giggling from the layers of fat that you have persevered in maintaining this long!! No harm in that, at least you made a start somewhere. Talking about sedentary life styles, I think its important to do three to four basic stretching exercises, forward bend, where you touch your toes without flexing your knees, backward bend that’s a boon for your eternally stressed spinal chord and side twists for, (no prizes for guessing that!) your waistline. Another intriguing aspect of stretching is that stretching actually improves your immune system. I’ll explain how, when you stretch, because you are stretching at your own pace, there is a likelihood for the maximum amount of endorphins being released wanting you to linger on for a longer period of time. With repetitive cycles, you are less prone to injuries, sprains, and the like thereby making you a lot fitter than you actually are.
Myths
A common myth among people is that stretching allows weight loss. Sure it may, but if you’re huge and bulky, it might be unnerving to follow it through and there may be many instances of you not being able to bend and stretch as well as your peers. Stretching actually stretches your muscles, making them elastic, (another hint at enjoying good bouts of lovemaking!) and making you feel lighter. You’ll also realize that after you go about a fortnight’s regime of exercise of this sort, you automatically make yourself busy and caught up with this routine, making you less prone to food. It’s a harmonious cycle actually, you exercise, you feel good, you repeat the act, and that in turn makes you feel less into food items as food, if undigested only piles up around your tummy, making you a lot more lethargic, than you actually are. All in all, stretching also improves your posture, making you stand and sit erect with your back straight, not to mention giving your confidence levels a major ego boost! Food for thought?! I’ll say!
In our tryst of finding the best for our body, both in terms of diet as well as exercise, what is most disappointing is the lack of stretching! We all do our aerobics, gym exercises, swimming exercises to the ‘t’ but what we usually tend to neglect is the need for a proper warm out. Most of the times accidents can very well be avoided if the warm up is accurately administered. Ideally every form of exercise has a different effect on one’s body, and warm-ups are nothing but getting you, physically and mentally prepared for the regime that is to follow! Generally every muscular sprain is similar in one way or the other and ninety per cent of the time, following up with a strict note of stretching in your gym is as important as lifting weights.
There are many of us who associate stretching with Yoga. Sure Yoga is one of the many forms of stretching, but not all yoga asasnas are the same. There is a thin line between same and similar, as there is between stretching and Yoga. Yoga is a way of life, the very essence of living life to the fullest. Stretching on the other hand makes your constructive foundation (of your body) a lot stronger and less susceptible to the pulls that you get so often while placing your body under any pressure. Another good reason for all of us to do some simple and basic stretches everyday, is simply because of the sedentary lives that we all live. We seldom realize that sitting on our butts and performing all mid tasks is not what is really expected out of our physical and mental beings. Sitting all day on your computer, clattering and clicking down the eight hours can place a major strain on various parts of our bodies, especially the brain that controls all functions.
It’s Effects
Stretching for one places you in sync with yourself. What I mean by that is that when you begin with your first exercise, you realize that the toe-touching that you thought was a piece of cake, is after all not so easy. Especially not with your well-maintained paunch giggling from the layers of fat that you have persevered in maintaining this long!! No harm in that, at least you made a start somewhere. Talking about sedentary life styles, I think its important to do three to four basic stretching exercises, forward bend, where you touch your toes without flexing your knees, backward bend that’s a boon for your eternally stressed spinal chord and side twists for, (no prizes for guessing that!) your waistline. Another intriguing aspect of stretching is that stretching actually improves your immune system. I’ll explain how, when you stretch, because you are stretching at your own pace, there is a likelihood for the maximum amount of endorphins being released wanting you to linger on for a longer period of time. With repetitive cycles, you are less prone to injuries, sprains, and the like thereby making you a lot fitter than you actually are.
Myths
A common myth among people is that stretching allows weight loss. Sure it may, but if you’re huge and bulky, it might be unnerving to follow it through and there may be many instances of you not being able to bend and stretch as well as your peers. Stretching actually stretches your muscles, making them elastic, (another hint at enjoying good bouts of lovemaking!) and making you feel lighter. You’ll also realize that after you go about a fortnight’s regime of exercise of this sort, you automatically make yourself busy and caught up with this routine, making you less prone to food. It’s a harmonious cycle actually, you exercise, you feel good, you repeat the act, and that in turn makes you feel less into food items as food, if undigested only piles up around your tummy, making you a lot more lethargic, than you actually are. All in all, stretching also improves your posture, making you stand and sit erect with your back straight, not to mention giving your confidence levels a major ego boost! Food for thought?! I’ll say!
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