Page 8 - Boca Exposure - April '21

Page 8, Boca Exposure
Reality Check √ – Healthy Answers On Living

And Loving Life: ‘Stretch For Life’

By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., to stick together, making them less elastic. The less active This can be done following a workout or after easy walking and
C.E.C. Dale is a motivational you are, the more your joints stiffen up. arm pumping. The key is to lengthen individual muscle fibers,
speaker who has spent many Some people jump out of bed early in the morning to begin increase circulation, remove waste products (lactic acid), and
years as a Certified Life Coach strenuous exercise with little to no warmup. I’m not surprised reduce muscle soreness. If workouts are not for you, take a hot
and has written numerous that many suffer with back problems. I recently joined a shower to warm your muscles before you stretch.
articles and e-books relating few guys for lunch, after their golf game, and the topic of Stretch a minimum of every third day for 10 to 20 minutes
to self-improvement and ways conversation revolved around their aches and pains. One was to keep your muscles supple. Work up to include stretching
to build a high-performance sporting a back brace, another in need of pain medication, and once a day. Begin with gentle stretches, especially parts of
team. Her education and yet another confessed his back locked up and he could barely the body that are particularly tight, then stretch more often
years of experience in physical finish the last hole. The conversation was unbelievable, but true! for longer periods of time as it becomes routine.
fitness and training of elite For as long as I’ve known my husband, he has included Static stretching is slow, with no bouncing. Once you have
athletes has enabled her to stretching in his morning regimen. His practice takes only stretched as far as you can without pain, hold the position for 15
sharpen her knowledge in many health-related areas. The about 20 minutes to complete, and he never misses a day. to 30 seconds. Concentrate on the part of the body being stretched
following is one in a series of columns devoted to many topics He claims there is no way he could swing a golf club, swim and breathe into it. Relax and breathe deeply for greatest results.
that deal with the mind/body connection and the importance of laps, or bike for miles without a proper warmup. Dynamic stretching means that your body is continuously
living a healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached Flexibility exercises keep your body limber by stretching moving, even while stretching, as well as increasing your
at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. the muscles and tissues that hold your body’s structure in muscle’s temperature. It will prepare your body for different
What have you been doing to keep yourself fit during place. Being more limber helps your equilibrium and gives types of movement that will be needed in whatever game
the pandemic? you the range of motion needed to live independently. you’re playing, such as tennis, golf, or baseball.
It’s been one long year of social distancing, masking Stretching deepens and slows your breathing down, It’s important to relax your entire body and focus on the
up, and staying close to home. Although fitness centers allowing more oxygen to flow through your veins and to muscles being stretched. Keep your body in alignment, and
have opened their doors to members, many people still hold your brain. There is a peacefulness that results from slow, don’t push to the point that you feel it in your lower back or
back from returning to their indoor exercise routine. We are static stretching that helps you to be more relaxed. neck. Take it slow and steady. Stretching should bring you
fortunate to live in a state that offers opportunities to stay active The best thing about stretching is how it makes you peace, both physically and mentally.
by walking, running, bicycling, swimming, or playing golf. feel. It improves your posture and brings awareness to Maintaining flexibility throughout your lifetime is
Whether you exercise or not, there is one thing that is vitally your whole body. Throughout my life the practice of probably one of the most important factors affecting the
important to your overall health: stretching! yoga has always taken priority. I can personally vouch quality of life as you age. I can tell you from experience that
When you wake in the morning, does it take you a while, for its health benefits of relieving stress and anxiety, and learning the correct way to stretch with proper breathing
not only to open your eyes, but also to straighten up? Those lowering blood pressure and breathing rate. techniques will make the difference in how you feel, and
first few movements of sitting up, getting out of bed, and If yoga is not your thing, you can still achieve results will improve your exercise experience as well.
taking a walk to the bathroom may make you feel like you’ve by adding stretching to your daily routine. Here are a few You might not win another game of Twister, but who
aged 10 years during the night. Joints stiffen and it takes important things to keep in mind: knows, you may find your toes are still within your reach.
some moving to get you going again. The best time to stretch is when your muscles are warm. Happy stretching!
So often we take our physical abilities for granted until
something happens that reminds us that our bodies are not
as young as they used to be. Suddenly you realize you can’t
easily get up off the floor, put on your shoes, or clip a toenail.
As we age, flexibility decreases due to the change in collagen,
the protein found in connective tissue. Collagen fibers in skin,
muscle sheath, bone, tendons, ligaments and cartilage begin

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