4 things that happen when you stretch every day
1. You increase blood flow
Stretching bring blood flow to muscles that are often underused throughout the day, helping them feel less tense and more relaxed. This boost in circulation helps revive muscles—almost like rehydrating them with a fresh supply of nutrients. So if you’ve been sitting at your desk for the last five hours (guilty), consider this your sign to get up and do a quick downward dog.
Research also shows that stretching increases blood flow to your brain, which can help you return to your desk clear-headed and ready to cross off the rest of your to-do list.
2. You activate your parasympathetic nervous system and calm yourself down
Have you ever walked out of a yoga class and felt like a week’s worth of stress was deleted in the last hour? This is no coincidence. Stretching targets your parasympathetic nervous system, or the rest and digest state that tells your body and mind to relax. You get to bring this cool, calm, and collected feeling to the rest of your day.
3. You elongate your muscles
This is the obvious one, but don’t overlook it! As you elongate these muscles, you’re also building flexibility and increasing range of motion over time. A daily practice helps the muscles (and the brain) remember this state. The more you do it, the better you get at it. Muscle memory is real! We say that stretching consistently is best to help build flexibility. Ten minutes a day is better than an hour once a week.” You can make it a habit by stretching right after you brush your teeth or right before you crawl into bed at night. (A personal favorite tip is to stretch while watching Netflix or for the length of five Taylor Swift songs, but you do you.)
4. You release happiness-inducing endorphins
Just like all forms of exercise, stretching releases happiness-boosting endorphins (especially in its more vigorous forms, like sun salutations). Pair that joy with the calm you get from your parasympathetic nervous system, and you’ll experience a full mental refresh after just 10 minutes of ooey-gooey stretches.
Have questions or concerns? Call Bluestone Health Group. Contact us to schedule an appointment by clicking this link or calling (203) 220-6488
