5 Reasons why you need to Stretch
You’ve nailed your workout routine and love the results you have been seeing from pilates, but you are constantly sore and have a hard time figuring out why.
The answer is stretching.
While we emphasize a warm up and cool down in every class, sometimes you arrive late or have to run out the door because you have a work meeting- we get that life gets in the way. But what if you had an opportunity to unwind and relax while improving your flexibility?
The benefits of stretching are endless.
Learn why below:
Decreases heart rate after exercise.
While working out is important- properly warming up and cooling down is part of the class for a reason. Your body needs to gradually return to its resting state, to help prevent muscle soreness, dizziness, and injury.
Prevents injury
Stretching helps prevent injury by improving flexibility and range of motion, increasing blood flow to muscles and joints, and reducing muscle stiffness. By improving blood circulation and delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and joints, muscles are able recover faster from activity and are better prepared for your next pilates class. This will also help avoid cramps and spasms in future workouts.
Improves flexibility
Stretching helps to elongate muscles and the connective tissues that surround and support them. This allows for a greater range of motion at the joint. Stretching can also influence the way your nervous system responds to muscle length changes. Some studies suggest that regular stretching can reduce the stretch reflex, making muscles more relaxed and less resistant to stretching, which leads to increased flexibility.
Aids muscle recovery
Stretching after exercise can improve blood circulation to the muscles. This enhanced blood flow helps remove metabolic waste products like lactic acid that can contribute to muscle soreness. It delivers oxygen and nutrients essential for muscle repair and recovery. By lengthening the muscle fibers, stretching can help reset the body to a more natural position after exercise, reducing the feeling of tightness and delayed muscle soreness.
Stretching supports a healthy nervous system to have you walking out of class feeling balanced and calm
Stretching can promote mental relaxation by reducing physical tension, which can alleviate stress and anxiety. Stretching also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a feeling of calmness caused by increased blood flow and endorphins. Additionally, stretching can be a form of mindfulness, helping you reconnect with your body and create space for a mind-body connection.
We are excited to introduce our 50 minute Cadillac stretch class that will leave you feeling aligned and balanced. The perfect compliment to your weekly workouts. Sundays at 5:30 PM. Book here.