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Easy Ways to Increase Your Flexibility

By Donna Stark

Next to our parents making our lunch and the boundless energy that filled our days, flexibility tops the list of things we take for granted when we are young. But as we get older, that natural flexibility tends to fade. Chalk it up to aging, chalk it up to sitting behind a desk all day for your career ... the "why" doesn't really matter. What does matter though, is that it shouldn't be overlooked. Flexibility is a vital component of fitness, and that means it is also a vital component of your overall health and wellness.

How Much Flexibility Does One Need?

Improving and maintaining your flexibility is important in your day-to-day health. Having good flexibility allows for a greater range of motion, improved posture, and increased mobility and independence. It also reduces the risk of muscle tension, pain, and joint injury. But how much flexibility does one person need? Well, that depends. If you are a competitive gymnast or a prima ballerina, you probably need more flexibility than most people; if you are like me and just want to age well and continue to take care of yourself and your loved ones, you don't need the ability to slide into a split at the drop of a dime. In other words, you need to be as flexible as your life dictates. 

Increasing Your Flexibility

There are many ways to improve the level of flexibility you have, both in and outside of your home. Take a look at the following suggestions.

  • Stretching - Start your morning with a couple of full-body stretches, focusing on the major muscle groups. Or try to stretch immediately after your shower or hot bath. The temperature of the water helps your muscles become more receptive to the benefits that stretching has to offer.
  • Classes - Consider taking a fitness class that incorporates deep stretching exercises, such as yoga, Pilates, or tai chi. All three are gentle on the body and are extremely effective with improving range of motion, flexibility, balance, and strength.
  • Dancing - Certain dance moves can really make the body stretch and will have you using your muscles and joints in ways you never thought of before. On top of that, you can double your benefits if you stretch before class too!
  • Stay hydrated - Since water is a huge component of your muscle composition, it's easy to see how chronic dehydration can lead to tight muscles and how tight muscles can lead to a loss in flexibility. If you want your muscles to respond to flexibility exercises, you need to maintain adequate hydration.

Being Flexible

Go ahead and get moving! Improve your overall health and wellness by increasing your flexibility every day with these tips. With just a little extra effort and a lot of simple stretching, you may even begin feeling as flexible as you did when you were younger!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cumming, Ga.

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