Sarah says Stretch!

We all know how important stretching is; it increases flexibility and range of motion, therefore lessening the risk of injury. However, stretching becomes even more important during the colder months. When your body is cold, your muscles tend to tighten, limiting your range of motion making them more prone to injury. So before stretching you need to increase your blood flow and prepare your joints and muscles for an increase in stress and range of motion. Dynamic stretches are great to include in your warm up because they stretch your muscles while also getting your blood flowing at the same time. Dynamic stretches consist of controlled leg or arm swings that take you gently and gradually to the limits of your range of motion. This type of stretching is quite useful as part of your warm up for an active or aerobic workout (such as a dancing or martial-arts). Stretching is also a great way to cool down after your workout. Static stretching can help slow your heart rate and relax the muscles you’ve just been working. Static stretching is when you stretch to the farthest point and hold the stretch. This type of stretching after your workout will help improve range of motion, flexibility and also reduce muscle soreness. Remember with static stretching you should only go to the point where you feel a light pulling on the muscles, you should never feel any pain. The cold weather is no reason to ignore stretching this winter. So rug up and get a proper stretching routine in place to avoid muscles stiffness and injuries so that you can make the most out of your winter workouts!