I have a question for you . . .

Do you stretch?

I used to think stretching was just something I had to do while at gymnastics or before track practice and I absolutely hated it. Mostly because it was painful, in an obvious way, but I also thought it was lame and not necessary.

I found that most people, even athletes, agree. We tend to think stretching is tedious, not fun, and, let’s face it, doesn’t look very cool. On the other hand, we also seem to think stretching is only good for before or after a workout.

[p.s. that’s actually wrong]

I’m here to tell you that stretching is one of the most beneficial things you can add to your health routine in 2019 and it requires very little work AND time!

Studies show that the optimal stretching method is only 30 seconds per muscle, once a day, from four or up to seven days a week in order to reap all the benefits.

Umm…#YESPLEASE

Something I can do only 30 seconds a day to improve my health and mobility?! That’s kind of a no brainer, if you ask me, which is one reason why I’ve committed to incorporating stretching into my daily routine.

Plus, there are so many awesome benefits to stretching that I think you’ll love:

• reduces low back pain (amen to that!!)

• improves blood circulation

• encourages good posture (especially if you spend most of your time sitting or on your phone)

• eases stress, tension, and anxiety

• injury prevention*** - this is probably one of the #1 benefits of stretching both in and out of sport/the gym

• increases flexibility

• lubricates joints and alleviates pain

• boosts energy

These are some of the most common health benefits of stretching, while some of the less common benefits might include:

• improves confidence due to better quality in movements and daily functional activities

• increases self-love - when you take care of your body and make time to nourish yourself in any way you are more caring and loving to yourself

• promotes body awareness by allowing you to feel what your body can do, what it’s capable of, and where it feels good and where you need to spend more time focusing on

• elevates mood due to the release of endorphins

The thing is, regardless of the intensity, whether it’s a HIIT workout or a quick mobility flow, your body can still react in the same way and still benefit from doing both! So, adding more stretching to your routine this year is definitely one to put on your to-do list. Whether it’s in the morning as soon as you wake up (maybe even some bed yoga) or even midday for a quick burst of energy, you can add more stretching anywhere it feels good for you to give you just the right relief where you need it.

Here are my Top 8 Stretching Exercises for Any Athlete Type

Add any of these exercises into your routine once a day to help reduce back pain, improve circulation, reduce stress, and boost your energy.

[Checkout the fine print for specific, targeted benefits ;)]

Let’s get stretchy in 2019!

Comment below and tell me what your favorite method of stretching is right now or what type of stretching techniques you want to add to you routine this year!