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Writer's pictureJames Gulliver

Why flexibility / mobility and stretching is important


Flexibility can seem to be one thing your either born with or without, join any Pilates or yoga session and you will see the wide variety of flexible capabilities within a single group. Whether your able to touch your toes or not don't panic because even if your less naturally flexible, flexibility can be taught and learned through a variety of different ways; from using blocks and bands to ensure your Able to achieve the correct stretch and let your muscles lengthen over time to simply using a repetitive low resistance assistance from a partner or friend to help you get deeper over time. Better flexibility may: Improve your performance in physical activities, decrease your risk of injuries and help your joints move through their full range of motion. Flexible muscles help improve how well you can move your joints and that's why flexibility is an important component of mobility. It's difficult to move a joint if the muscles and tissues surrounding it are too tight. Tight muscles can pull on a joint, causing it to become misaligned and unstable. Muscles that are inflexible tire more quickly, causing opposing muscle groups to work harder. Muscle fatigue can lead to

muscular injuries and the inability of the muscles to protect joints from more severe injuries. Flexibility is extremely important for physical fitness. Poor

flexibility decreases your body's ability to maintain proper posture, limits proper joint motion increasing the risk for low- back pain, joint pain, and injury during everyday activities.


6 key benefits of flexibility


Improved flexibility produces a wide range of physical benefits and can have a positive effect on your overall well-being.


1. Fewer injuries


Once you develop strength and flexibility in

your body you’ll be able to withstand more

physical stress. Plus, you’ll rid your body of

any muscle imbalances, which will reduce

your chance of getting injured during

physical activity. Correcting muscle

imbalances requires a combination of

strengthening the underactive muscles and

stretching the overactive (tight) ones.


2. Less pain


Your body is likely to feel better overall

once you work on lengthening and opening

your muscles. When your muscles are

looser and less tense, you’ll experience

fewer aches and pains. Plus, you may be

less likely to experience muscle cramps.


3. Improved posture and

balance


When you focus on increasing muscular

flexibility your posture is likely to improve.

Working out your body allows you to have

proper alignment and correct any

imbalances. Plus, with an increased range

of motion you may find it easier to sit or

stand in certain ways. Yoga has

been shown to improve balance.


4. A positive state of mind


Regularly engaging in poses that stretch

and open up your body can bring about

feelings of relaxation. The physical benefits

can extend to a relaxed state of mind. You

may find it easier to unwind once your body

feels better.


5. Greater strength


It’s important to increase strength as you

become more flexible. This ensures your

muscles will have the right amount of

tension so that they’re strong enough to

support you and your movements, allowing

you to become more physically fit.


6. Improved physical

performance


Once you increase your flexibility to allow

greater movement in your body you’ll be

able to perform better physically. This is

because your muscles are working more

effectively.


Stretching your body to become more

flexible offers many physical benefits. Such

training allows for easier and deeper

movements while building strength and

stability. Stretching your muscles and

joints also leads to greater range of motion,

improved balance, and increased flexibility.


Key Benefits of stretching


Improve your performance in physical

activities.


Decrease your risk of injuries.


Help your joints move through their full

range of motion.


Increase muscle blood flow.


Enable your muscles to work most

effectively.


Improve your ability to do daily activities.


It is not simply good enough to simply

stretch and keep flexible, we must also

keep mobile especially in our older age as if

we do not keep mobile it can lead to a

whole host of issues such as: obesity,

impaired strength and balance, and

chronic diseases such as diabetes and

arthritis.


Key Benefits of Mobility


Greater joint range of motion and freedom

of movement.


Improved circulation.


Decreased risk of injury.


Reduced muscle tension and soreness.


Improved posture.


Improved movement efficiency.

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