Cats do it sleeping or leaping. Sports persons do it as part of the compulsory routine. It’s recommended for air travelers, taught during yoga lessons, suggested before gym workouts. Most fitness programmes begin with it. Techies are asked to do it all the time.
No, it is not prayer. It is getting up and stretching your back and arms as far as they will go. For instant energizing.
Stretching is a powerful part of any exercise programme, says an advisory from the Mayo Clinic. In whatever way you choose to abuse your body in a gym-treadmilling, weightlifting, stationary biking-you need to stretch out those sore muscles before you shower. Aerobic training may lead muscles to contract and flex.
You need to unlock them for balance. So stretch.
Stretching is beneficial by itself, say doctors. It increases flexibility. Flexible muscles make tasks such as bending, lifting and catching the peak-hour city bus easy and throwing darts (paperweights?) at the boss’s picture accurate. Stretching improves the range of motion in your joints (better to kick the seat in front).
Stretching improves circulation –internal and external. Stretching promotes better posture. You can sit straight till the guy behind mumbles darkly about what he’ll do to your anatomy once outside. Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching will help prevent injury by preparing you for activity. You’ll run faster, man Stretch anytime, anywhere, unless you have a chronic condition or an injury.
In which case, consult your docor physiotherapist for the best way to stretch.
For computer users stretching is part of the prescription. Repetitive strain on the back, arms and legs is caused by bad posture and long hours of sitting or standing, says Dr. Phani Raj, consultant ortho surgeon. Incorrect computer placement, lack of eye-monitor alignment, poorly designed key-boards and chair could cause muscle tightness. Stretching will help realign the body, unravel the strain. “Make stretching a habit when you’re on long distance flights”’ says Dr. Ali, who makes the well-being of co-travellers his business. “Hanging legs for long will restrict blood flow to the calf muscles. Deep vein thrombosis is a possibility”. The economy class is economically, not ergonomically designed, he warns. “Get up every two hours to stretch your legs. If you’re hesitant to walk among snorers, munchers and movie watchers keep pedaling in your seat. Stretching on flights is a life-saver.” “A stretch rutine is a must before a dance routine,” says Rad-hika Shurajit, dancer/choreographer. “If you go on stage without warming up first, you’ll take 10 minutes to catch your breath.” The heavy foot-tapping and the half-mandi (squat) positions attack the knee joints, leaving some 90 per cent of dancers with knee and low-back problems, she says. “Do mild stretches before and stretch to cool down after the performance.” Not all of us are blessed with bodies aligned for dancing, she points out. Classical postures are difficult and may leave the body battered. “I insist that my students do exercises such as leaning forward, head roll and hand stretches-straight or in circles. Thankfully, there is more awareness about warm-up stretches now than when I started dancing.”
“Hey, I can’t do without stretching” said Vidya Pillai, snooker girl, “The pressure of the game makes muscles go stiff. You have no choice but to stretch your arms, legs and back to de-stress. You can’t chew gum decently” Back stretches and rotating arms are pretty essential when you’re playing 7 frames, she said. Players the world over concentrate, do breathing exercises. “You can also stretch your head around the neck if it doesn’t distract the opponent at the table.” Cricket or cueing, teams attend camps before tournaments to do patterned stretches. “Ideally, start the day with about of stretching and between games stretch to relax muscles.”
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