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Inside This Issue
1 David’s Most Memorable Concert 2 See the Future You Want with a Vision Board 3 Naturally Improve Your Digestive Health 3 Broccoli and Grape Salad 4 How Stretching Can Improve Your Health
Flexing Some Muscle THE BENEFITS OF STRETCHING
You probably know that maintaining an active lifestyle is necessary for your overall health. But while cardiovascular exercise and strength training are crucial, you still might be missing an essential step in your fitness routine. Stretching produces both unique and complementary benefits, and skipping it can be a big mistake. The positive effects of stretching are well-documented. It relaxes tense muscles as a part of stress relief, improves posture, reduces aches and pains, and enhances blood flow to muscles. But the most pronounced benefit of stretching is probably its ability to improve flexibility, which has both practical and holistic effects. It feels good to bend down and pick something up without too much effort, and an improved range of motion will help you stay independent. As our bodies get older, stretching becomes increasingly important. Osteoarthritis affects more than 33% of adults aged 65 and older. The condition causes stiffness, lower
back pain, and sciatica, but stretching can help improve patients’ pain levels. Falling is also a significant concern for people of a certain age, and stretching boosts balance and stability, making a tumble less likely to occur. If you’re not as active as you’d like to be, stretching is also a great way to start moving. While it won’t take the place of running or weight lifting, consistent stretching will result in many positive effects. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good! You can still see benefits from stretching, no matter how much (or how little) you exercise. Before starting your new stretching regimen, you should know some safety tips. Research now says it’s best to exercise after (not before) light exercise. Stretching should not hurt, so stop if it does. And while you should hold each stretch for about 30 seconds, you should not bounce or rock because doing so can pull a muscle.
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