Skip to main content

4 Tips to Increase Flexibility


 

You eat the right foods, drink the right drinks, and exercise regularly. In other words, you’re strong and healthy. There is only one hole in your overall good health. You’re as flexible as a piece of plywood. But there’s good news! You don’t have to stay inflexible your entire life. With the right steps, you can improve your flexibility, which will make life that much better.

Ready to get started building a more flexible you? Here’s how.

Roll Before

For many years, it was common practice to stretch before working out. In recent years, folks have ditched that advice for something better: lightly performing whatever you plan to do. Going to run? Walk and then jog before getting into a run. For those who want to take their routines to the stretchy limit, it’s time to use a foam roller.

With a foam roller, you work to gently stretch your muscles before working them out, and better yet, you stretch them out safely. Essentially a massage for your muscles, foam rolling helps your muscles relax and stretch. This, in turn, allows your entire muscle to be worked out in the gym afterward and prevents an already tight muscle from growing tighter through your exercise routine. Once you knock out a little foam rolling, the time is right for a round of body-weight exercises or light activity before going full force.

Go All the Way

As you exercise, you can help your flexibility by working throughout your entire range of motion. Initially, you may have a harder time squatting your full range of motion, but sticking with it will allow your muscles to work all the way and will lead to their being more flexible.

To get to where you can squat or perform other exercises as deep as your body allows, you will probably want to reduce the amount of weight you use. As your body grows accustomed to going through a fuller range of motion, you can increase the weight and enjoy improved flexibility.

Stretch Afterwards

Your routine winds down, and your muscles feel tight and want to stay that way. Folks who are new to working out often enjoy the feeling. It lets them know their body has worked hard, and so they allow the tightness to remain as they leave the gym and return to their daily routines.

However, this is when your stretches become most important. By taking 10 minutes to stretch slowly, you can take a huge step toward your overall flexibility. A good post-workout stretch will focus on the areas worked during your routine, but will provide a little stretching for the entire body. You can also finish your stretching with more foam rolling if you have time, as this will help further your flexibility goals.

Take It Slow

When stretching for increased flexibility, you may be tempted to push it as far as you can. But don’t give in. Instead, you should relax and take the slow and easy-going path to flexibility. Going too far too fast will actually have the opposite result that you want, as your body will have to repair itself from small injuries that occur from stretching and won’t want to stretch further in the future. Instead, take your time and allow your body to ease into stretches.

Feel an uncomfortable burning sensation that actually hurts? That is not your body’s way of thanking you. Back off and stretch to the point of slight discomfort. Accept that you can’t increase your flexibility overnight, and you will make better headway than beating your muscles into flexible submission.

Call or email me today to get started on a challenging and consistent exercise plan to increase flexibility as well as reduce your body fat and increase your energy levels. Let’s do this!

Yours In Health,

Brian

#buffalopersonaltraining #fatlossbuffalo #appliedfitness

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Missing Piece of Your Fat Loss After 40 Success

The Missing Piece of Your Fat Loss After 40 Success Is this why your hormones are out of whack...? Macros. Strength training. These are undoubtedly crucial components of a successful fitness journey. But there's one more piece to the puzzle that often gets overlooked: sleep. Without sufficient sleep, even the most dedicated workout routines and carefully planned diets can fall short. When you're sleep-deprived, your body's hormones, which regulate metabolism and appetite, can become imbalanced. This can lead to increased cravings, reduced energy levels, and slower weight loss. So, how much sleep do you need? Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Create a relaxing bedtime routine, ensure your sleep environment is dark and quiet, and limit screen time before bed. By prioritizing sleep, you'll support your body's ability to recover from workouts, burn fat, and build muscle. So, next time you're feeling frustrated with your fitness progress, consider whethe...
Latest Youtube video where I discuss the importance of keeping your immune system strong to boost resistance and increase immunity. Watch as I give you insight as to 2 things you can do ASAP! Yours In health, Brian #fatlossbuffalo #leanbodybuffalo

29 Simple Ways To Be Fit

  Far too often fitness is presented as complicated and confusing.   Nothing could be farther from the truth.     Being fit comes from living the following simple everyday practices: Throw out your big dinner plates. Using small plates at home effortlessly reduces calorie intake and promotes weight loss. Make exercise a regular part of your life. Create a network of accountability with workout partners or by working with me, your local fitness expert.   Know what you want to accomplish. Visualize the end result of your hard work. Believe in you. I know that you CAN accomplish your goals.   Don't be a wimp. Keep the intensity high during your workouts. Remember that you don't want to kill time; you want to burn calories and strengthen your body through intense exercise. Drink water all day long.   Know when to ask for help.   Incorporate High Intensity Interval Training into your routine by doing bursts of high intensity rather than exercising at a...