Fitness
Being flexible is so much more than being able to do the bendiest poses in yoga.
Bend forward to touch your toes and you might be surprised by how tight your hamstrings feel.
(And your glutes, and your back.)
When you lack flexibility, youll probably feel it most in your shoulders and hips.
Start with a squat or lunge to see how your hips feel.
you might then check yourshoulder flexibilityby lifting your arms directly over your head.
Heres how often you should stretch to improve flexibility.
If it isnt stretched out, that tension can spread until your whole being feels like one stiff board.
Of course, being flexible doesnt just mean you could do all the bendiest poses in yoga class.
It also helps you out in everyday life.
Your muscles will work better andget more blood flowif you exercise your full range of motion.
How Often Should You Stretch To Improve Flexibility?
to get to increase your flexibility, Passalacqua recommends stretching at least two to three times a week.
As you stretch, your connective tissues should become less restrictive and more stabilized, he says.
If you dont practice often enough, you maystart to lose mobility again.
Be sure tohold your stretchesfor at least 30 seconds each for best results, says Passalacqua.
But dont push so hard or hold so long that you experience pain.
Of course, how often you stretch depends on what youre trying to achieve.
If youwant to do a split, that is something you gotta work on daily, Berger says.
Make a plan, form it as a habit, and stick to it, he says.
Note that you wont be as limber as Gumby after one stretching session.
Studies referenced:
Afonso, J.
2018 May 15;596(10):1903-1917. doi: 10.1113/JP275459.
Epub 2018 Apr 5.
PMID: 29623692; PMCID: PMC5978284.
Functional properties of human muscle spindles.
