Stretching is something we should all be doing. However, very few of us actually make it. Stretching is the part of a workout most people skip, fitness experts say. However, the way your muscles respond to exercise can be very different.
Stretching warms up the muscles. And warmer muscles are more flexible.
But in yoga, flexibility is called a requirement when it shouldn’t be.
If yoga is your thing, don’t worry about how flexible you are.
Everyone should have access to yoga. If you’re curious about stretching, read on to learn what it can do for your body. You can still benefit from stretching. But you don’t have to put your legs behind your head.
General Beliefs About Stretching
#1. The best time to stretch is right after a workout.
The best time to stretch is after a workout
yes and no. It is safer to stretch warm muscles. Warmer muscles are more relaxed and have a greater range of motion. But five minutes of brisk walking or jogging is not enough.
Try stretching for a few minutes during and after your workout. This will help you get the most out of your workout.
#2. There is only one “right” way to stretch.
There is only one correct way to stretch.
No. There are many different stretches. Here are some common types of stretches you can try.
static stretching
Static stretching involves stretching specific muscles until you feel tension. Hold the stretch for 15 to 60 seconds. This is considered the safest way to stretch. With gentle movements, the muscles and connective tissue have time to reset the stretch reflex.
Active Isolation (AI) Stretch
This method stretches specific muscles until you feel tension. But you can only hold your pose for 1 to 2 seconds. Usually you’ll use a rope or your hands to pull the muscle to its point of stretch.
But don’t force the muscles to stay contracted. Muscles can remain relaxed. So watch out for overstretching here.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Stretching
This stretching method contracts and then relaxes the muscles. This is usually done with the help of an assistant or partner. When done correctly, it can be very effective.
However, this method of stretching should only be performed under the supervision of a physical therapist or trainer.
ballistic or dynamic stretching
This stretching method requires you to slowly move into the stretched position. Then jump in as soon as you get there. Most people do this version of the stretch. However, experts agree that this approach can be dangerous. It puts too much stress on the muscles and connective tissue.
Be careful when stretching in this way.
#3. Stretching should be uncomfortable.
stretching should be uncomfortable
No. In fact, if stretching is painful for you, you’re doing it too much.
When you feel tense, get into your stretch and stop. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds, taking a deep breath. Then, relax and repeat the stretch, trying to move further inward. But don’t get past your strengths.
#4. You should hold the stretch for at least 15 seconds.
Yes. Most experts agree that 15 to 30 seconds of stretching is enough.
What is stretching?
what is elongation
Stretching is a term that some fitness professionals love and others don’t. When you practice yoga poses, you put stress on different parts of your body. This load is distributed along certain lines. It pulls muscles, tissues and joints along the connective tissue network.
To understand strain, one must first differentiate.
Muscles and fascia tense. Connective tissue is then stressed.
If you stretch, the body initially responds with a freeze. This is also known as the “stretch reflex.” Your muscles initially protest the pressure. Depending on your physical condition and daily habits, this stress will ease after about one to three minutes.
Muscles are naturally elastic.
When the stretch reflex fades, the fibers in the muscle relax. Then your muscles will go into a more stretched state. This is the normal expansion and contraction of muscles. That way it’s not really a “track”.
Once the stretch is over, the muscle contracts back to its natural state. Structurally, the muscles haven’t changed much.
The situation with connective tissue is different.
After the stretch reflex is triggered, the more elastic connective tissue fibers begin to “slide” into a more stretched state. This is very different from muscle. Connective tissue fibers reattach when stretched.
Connective tissue stretches like plastic.
If done slowly and evenly, the fibers will take on a new shape. They will keep their shape. But if done too quickly or unevenly, they can tear like plastic.
So “stretch” is used to describe the process of changing the shape of the body.
Fascia type
Fascia type
Fascia is ubiquitous throughout the body. It holds bones together and wraps around organs, nerves and muscles. Fascia can even be found in the eyes. It exchanges information with the brain through the many nerves running through its tissue.
There are three important types of fascia that yoga practitioners need to keep in mind.
#1. ribbon
Ligaments are connective tissues that connect bones. The tissue is very fibrous, firm and inelastic. They are supposed to hold bones together and stabilize joints.
#2. tendon
Tendons connect the body’s muscles to bones. Or they can connect muscle to muscle. This fascia is thinner and less fibrous. and you are