Stay Healthy with Soosan

“If we truly knew the amazing benefits of stretching, we would incorporate them on our daily lives. Most people only stretch before or after a workout, but the truth is that we should also consider stretching every morning after we wake up, before we go to bed and throughout the day. I know that we all have busy schedules, but we only need to take few minutes out of our days to stretch.” Soosan Raika

Why do we need to stretch every morning?

Let’s think about our posture when we are sleep, we are usually in one or two positions for a long period of time. This can cause tightness, tension and sometimes even pain in our body. Stretching for 5 to 10 minutes every morning can be very beneficial in increasing blood flow and in preparing the body for a busy day ahead.

Child’s Pose

I have to say that this is one of my favorite stretches. It relaxes the entire body, stretches the spine, opens up the hips and promotes circulation.

Why do we need to stretch before bedtime?

Most of us have a very busy schedule, from morning through night we have to take care of a lot of things. These responsibilities can be very stressful for our bodies, causing a lot of stress to our muscles and joints, and preventing them from staying flexible. Taking a few minutes before bedtime to stretch can help the muscles relax, so we can have a good night sleep.

Lean Back Quad Stretch

Another great stretch for the front of the thighs, hips and it can also help to open the chest and relax the neck.

Why do we need to stretch throughout the day?

It is also important to stretch throughout the day or as needed. We are a sitting society, most of our jobs require us to sit in front of a screen for hours each day. Seating, specially slouching can cause huge stress on the spine, hip flexors, back muscles and neck. Our bodies are not designed to sit for long periods of time, so we should try to get up every so often to take a little walk, stretch and keep our spine in line.

Forward Lunge Stretch

This stretch is extremely beneficial to your hips, thighs, and groin.

To conclude

My appreciation for stretching has increased in the past few years. I used to work out a lot and not take the time to stretch correctly. Of course, this cause my body to be extremely tight and sore all the time. As I got older, I started to realize how important stretching was, paying more attention to what my body needed.
Stretching daily can help to improve your flexible, stay pain free, and increase your range of motion. All of these are essential for a better and healthier quality of life.