How to Become More Flexible
How to Become More Flexible
Well, we are talking about physical flexibility but mental flexibility too cannot be unrelated to how far
you can stretch and bend your body. If you are like most blue-collar workers poring over computer
screens all day (and night actually), your body is likely rigid, your mind less vital, responsive and flexible
than it can be. At the moment you are probably unaware of the extent to which you can get better. If
your flexibility quotient really is on the low side, you might suddenly realize how ungreased your body
parts especially the joints are when suddenly you get into a sports game your friends insist you play with
them or climb the make-do prop to change the light bulb at home. Why did they install bulb holder so
insanely high anyway? To thrown in the extra spice, a flexible body in the sack can increase the fun.
What is flexibility?
Flexibility is defined as “the range of motion possible around a specific joint”. A flexible body is less likely
to suffer musculoskeletal injuries, pain in the lower back and has a better posture.
Stretching:
If you include stretching in your normal exercise routine, you are likely to gain better flexibility in the
body. Stretching can help rehabilitate from injuries, improve your posture because it helps with your
neck and back pain, and relieving muscle cramps. Tai Chi and Yoga have been found useful in improving
flexibility in the body. Do some static stretches i.e. stretch a muscle to its length and hold it static there
for some time. Stretching indeed is the king of exercises to become flexible.
Choose full-range motion during exercise:
When exercising, try to cover the whole range of motion a joint can perform rather than focusing on a
single or twice repeated movements.
Massage:
A massage can loosen and relax the muscles and decrease stiffness in the joints. It will stretch the fibers
of the muscles, increase blood circulation and result in better performance.
Working your body at work:
There are a number of simple exercises you can do to keep your muscles and joints active at work. You
can stretch your feet, tense them up and hold them there for a few seconds to increase blood flow. You
can stretch your hands out with chest jutting out. You can sit up in your chair and simply twist your
upper body from side to side while keeping your feet in same position in front of you.
Drink more water:
It sounds very simple but many people do not drink enough water. A hydrated body means fully
hydrated muscles smoothly doing their job.
Breathing:
Take a few minutes to focus on your breath. It always relaxes the body. If possible, do some deep
breathing.
Roll a ball:
A simple Yoga exercise involves rolling a tennis under bare feet. The exercise relieves cramped muscles
in the feet and prevents hamstring injuries.
Overall, for a great flexible body, the number one suggestion would be stretching and usually humble
stretching gets ignored in our physical routines so make sure you work it into your exercise regime.