Stretch your body and mind for greater vitality

            It’s a well-known fact that stretching of muscles improves joint health and aids in the prevention of injuries. I have found though that it is equally important to stretch one’s mind for better brain function. There is a natural law that muscles will contract and develop increased rigidity if they are not regularly stretched; the same concept holds true for our mind. If we aren’t striving to learning new information and creating new nerve connections we can get rigid in our outlook on life and reduce brain function. Stretching of the body is just as important as strength and endurance training but often neglected or overlooked in a wellness routine. People tend to underestimate the importance of flexibility in our lives. Here are some of the added benefits of stretching our body and mind.

•    Increases blood flow – blood flow gives you greater endurance, more strength and healthy brain function along with stronger bones and joints.

•    Releases tension – flexibility reduces mental and physical stress which can result in improved posture. This also aids in the reduction of muscle soreness and fatigue.

•    Improves coordination –stretching your muscles help to increase flexibility, improve balance, and increase coordination.  Brain exercises help improve retention and use of memory.

•     Improves range of motion – flexibility makes it easier to move your joints and keep them healthy and mobile. Keeping active throughout life is imperative for a healthy brain. Increasing your focus to use all of your senses at a higher level creates better nerve synapses and a healthier nervous system.

                 Flexibility by definition is the ability to move joints and muscles through their full range of motion. Even though we are in control of this range of motion, our bodies have a natural ‘set’ point. Through proper stretching exercises, we can push the set point further. Over time, the muscles acclimate to the more elongated positions thus increasing our flexibility.

              Many times we as people don't stretch our mind because of engrained limiting beliefs that tend to hold us back from reaching our true potential. Creating a list of goals, dreams and desires often helps to stretch our brain and create a new mental set point. Creating even more specific goals and turning them into smaller “wins” or success points often makes it easier to stay on track and succeed more often.
                 Aside from physical exercise, stretching of your entire body should be part of your everyday regimen. Most Americans these days sit behind a computer for extended periods of time, this action can lead to the common problem of “rounded shoulder and forward head syndrome.” This in turn leads to neck, shoulder and lower back pain.  If you were to look at the posture of someone that was depressed; would they have good posture? Probably not! The brain puts our body into a slumped or guarded position subconsciously when in a depressed state. Changing your posture and you can change your mindset; just as changing your mindset will change your posture. Our entire body is connected through the nervous system, and the nervous system can be greatly influenced by regularly stretching our body and mind.
                 The real question is have you incorporated a good flexibility program aside from your regular exercise? The more you exercise, the more time you need to incorporate stretching in order to balance out your routine. Most people I know choose to stretch only when they are exercising. This should be done daily whether you have exercised or not. Remember your daily posture throughout the day. This action can lead to increased flexibility when done correctly, and has a direct effect on your mind and physical training. If you want to stay healthy in the long run, it’s best you start working on a stretching program now. Your range of motion will only decrease as you get older. Want help developing a stretching routine? I recommend attending our Energy Exercise Workshop Tuesday February 19^th 2013. We will teach and incorporate a healthy balanced stretching routine that is both simple and highly effective routine.