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Maintaining your flexibility, especially as you get older, is really important, as it could ensure you also maintain your full range of motion and can go throughout the day without dealing with stiffness and pain. But flexibility is definitely one of those things that come slowly and with consistent effort, and it could also be lost quickly if you do not keep up with a stretching routine that works, so check out the three tips below, as they are geared towards helping you reach your maximum flexibility potential safely.
1. Stick to a Schedule
If you only stretch sporadically, you won’t reach your maximum flexibility level. A good place to start is to set a stretching schedule that includes hour-long sessions four days per week. In this way, you can stretch often enough that you won’t lose the progress that you made, and you will also be stretching for a long enough period of time each day to ensure you are able to hit every muscle group in a slow, controlled, and safe way. After all, you should never move through your stretches too quickly, as being sloppy could lead to injuries.
2. Take Classes
Check local fitness centers and gyms, as there are likely classes geared specifically towards helping you become more flexible. Working under the guidance of a professional is a good way to know exactly what stretches to do, and in what order, to achieve and maintain your flexibility safely. You can even take some yoga classes regularly, including yin yoga classes that focus on holding stretches for 3 minutes at a time to achieve greater flexibility.
3. Warm Up Your Muscles First
Many people find it a lot easier to stretch out their muscles after they have worked through a cardio or strength training routine to warm up their body and loosen it up. Scheduling a sweaty workout session prior to your stretching session might help you reach your max flexibility while also saving you time because you will be more limber from the start of your stretching routine.
Ultimately, if you want to reach your maximum flexibility potential, you need to work hard and you need to keep at it. Once you become more limber, you will not want to go back to being stiff. Like any other type of exercise, though, make sure that you warm up and cool down so that you can reduce the risk of getting hurt in the process of loosening and lengthening your muscles.
* This article is for informational purposes only and not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medications, supplements, diet, or exercise routine.