Why Stretch Before Working Out

Exercise is an important part of staying healthy. Your flexibility plays a key role, too, not only are your muscles healthier, but your tendons and ligaments, too. To become more flexible, regular stretching needs to be done, but shouldn't be the first thing you do when you workout.

Muscles do need to be stretched, but they must be warm. You can take a warm shower or move in place a bit until they are. When you begin to sweat, you know that the muscles are ready to be stretched. Even though you're rushed for time, make time to stretch or you could end up suffering a needless injury. Stretching also helps in the middle of the afternoon when you're feeling sluggish by making you feel more alert.

If you exercise too many days in a row without properly stretching your muscles, you could begin to have aches and pains that you never had before. Stretching brings blood to your muscles, thus making them longer. Along with that blood come the things your muscles need for a harder workout. This allows a pain free workout and much less chance of badly hurting yourself.

However, there are some things to remember when stretching. After the muscles are warm, go into your first stretch, making sure you move slowly. Then, when you feel the muscle being worked, hold it for around 20 seconds. That time allows the blood to go into the muscle so it gets all the benefits possible. You must breathe when stretching. Again, more good things get to the muscles, thus further helping it. If you do this regularly, you should have a great workout and the body you've always wanted.