Stretching after a workout can easily become a neglected practice. But cooling down your muscles is important after exercise—no matter how vigorous the routine. The few minutes you spend stretching allows your heart rate to slow and your body to recover properly.
If the only time you think about stretching is after a workout, you’re missing out on additional opportunities to reap the benefits of what this simple, yet powerful practice has to offer. Stretching keeps your muscles well-nourished by promoting healthy blood flow and fluid exchange.
How often do you think about strengthening your spine? It’s natural to gravitate toward activities that give you results you can see, but neglecting this part of your body could contribute to poor posture, back pain and more.
Just as a balanced meal nourishes your body with the proper proportions of fresh veggies, lean protein and whole grains, tai chi helps improve your health with its own beneficial combination of strength training, flexibility work and meditation.
You’ve pobably heard that yoga can improve your health, but you may be unsure how to get started. Whatever has piqued your interest in yoga, rest assured there’s an enjoyable, health-boosting practice that’s just right for you waiting to be discovered.
Many people rave about how much they love yoga, but like any new activity, you may need to work at it a bit to reach that place of total devotion. Even five to 10 minutes per day of mindful stretching can brighten your mood, firm your muscles and soothe you.
Learn about the Alexander technique, Feldenkrais, Trager and other ways to move your body to encourage pain relief, stress reduction, better flexibility and more. Find a technique that “moves” you.
The popularity of Pilates has grown tremendously in recent years, and people are pulling up a mat in the hopes of gaining improved flexibility and balance, a trimmer midsection and even pain relief.
Devotees of Pilates Reformer and mat classes may be heading to studios across the country to achieve toned bodies, but they’re leaving with far more health benefits than they may even realize.
Qi gong is a gentle, flowing form of movement therapy that delivers a variety of health benefits. Millions of people around the world now practice this regimen of meditative motion and deep breathing to enhance their physical and spiritual wellbeing.
If you’ve taken a Pilates mat class or a one-on-one lesson using a Reformer, you may feel inspired to pursue the precise, fluid, controlled movements at home. And you can!
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