If you’re anything like me, stretching is your least favorite part of a workout (even though you know you need to do it and it feels good!). Working on your flexibility is so important for injury prevention, improved circulation, alleviating muscle soreness and more! So, if you’re like me and have trouble finding time to stretch, try these three sneaky ways to squeeze stretching into your everyday routine. By working flexibility training into your usual routine, there are no excuses!
1. The great shower stretch. Stretching after you workout is so great because your muscles are warm. You know when else your muscles are warm? In the shower! Tack on a few extra minutes in the shower each morning to do some neck rolls, forward bends or even some chest or back stretches. Not only is it good for you, the warm water makes it feel fantastic!
2. Flexible TV time. Just like you can workout during television commercial breaks, you can also stretch during them! Most commercials are about 30 seconds long, so hold each stretch — be it for your hamstrings, quadriceps, biceps, triceps or even a relaxing yoga pose like pigeon — for one full commercial and then move on to your next muscle group for the next advertisement.
3. Work-break stretch. You know around 3 p.m. when you start to get tired and start to think about those not-so-healthy goodies in the vending machine? Well, instead of upping your energy through a sugar rush (which never lasts), stretch it on out. A little office yoga or five to 10 minutes of office stretching will not only improve your range of motion, it’ll perk you up better than that second (or third) cup of Joe for the day!
If you aren’t the best at stretching after a workout, tell us how you fit stretching into your daily routine!