While many of us have committed to exercise as a way of keeping healthy and fit, sometimes we forget how important stretching can be. If you have a stretching routine, that is great, yet most friends I asked do not. I learned to stretch in my younger days as a runner. When I could no longer run, I continued to stretch before my morning walk.
Stretching for just 5 minutes a day improves your range of motion, eases tight muscles from sitting, boosts blood flow, and lowers stress. This short daily habit also helps your posture and everyday movements feel easier.
According to a review in Harvard Health Publishing, "A regular stretching routine is a simple yet powerful addition to your daily self-care. Make stretching a habit, and you'll likely notice improvements in how you move, feel, and handle the demands of everyday life."*
Benefits like these are a great reason to add 5 minutes of stretching every morning as you approach your day:
- Stress relief: Relaxes tense muscles to help calm your mind.
- More energy: Wakes up your body and reduces midday fatigue.
- Easier movement: Helps you reach, bend, and twist with less effort. **
Try This: 5 Minutes of Stretching
The key is to create a regular routine, so to get you started, here are simple exercises that I found. Shoot for doing each for one minute:
- Neck rolls - alternate from circling left to right, then right to left, for one minute.
- Chest opener - standing with feet hip-width apart, stretch left arm up over your head for 30 seconds, then switch to do right arm.
- Back twist - while sitting, cross left leg over right, twist your shoulders toward the left for 30 seconds, then switch to right leg crossed over left leg and twist shoulders to the right.
- Forward fold - stand with feet hip-width apart and slowly bending at the waist, letting gravity pull your arms over your head for 30 seconds, stand and repeat.
- Chest stretch - stand in a doorway, put hands on each side and lean forward until you feel the stretch for 30 seconds and repeat.
There are many other videos on YouTube and articles to use to expand your stretching routine. Yet, the most important is to make sure you start stretching for all the benefits of a healthier YOU!
* The Ideal Stretching Routine, Harvard Health Publishing, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-ideal-stretching-routine
** The Benefits of Stretching as We Age, https://www.parcofontario.com/10-exercises-regain-energy/
*** 5 MIN DAILY STRETCH - An every day, full body routine, https://youtu.be/Ef6LwAaB3_E?si=_KDJk6cAN9I7jip-
**** 5-Minute Daily Stretching Routine, https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/daily-stretching-routine