There are many benefits of stretching – some predictable and some surprising.
It took me a long time to come around to the idea of stretching. I am a product of the 80s--Jane Fonda videos with head bands and leg warmers. It wasn’t for me.
Not surprisingly, stretching can help us with flexibility which can help prevent falls. Stretching can help you look younger by improving your posture and help you sit more upright and walk more upright. Picture a person more and more hunched over as they get older. Stretching can help.
Most unexpected to me is that stretching improves blood flow and reduces stiffness in your arteries and not just in the areas you stretch, but your whole body. Studies have now shown that stretching reduces the risk for heart attack and type II diabetes. They are not sure how yet. This extra blood flow to your muscles also helps them respond to your strength training exercise better.
How to stretch?
There sure is a lot of information available and it would be difficult for me to make suggestions because of the large range of choices that are dependent on your starting point, age and how much time you want to devote. Find some that work best for you. Reading says it is good to start and finish exercise with stretching. I use stretching in between my strength exercises. And for me, a little goes a long way.
That is unexpected and good to hear now that I have doctors telling me to stretch every day. From many years of periodic stretching for all my lumbar issues I found that stretching before bed gets my brain ready for sleep. I find it very relaxing physically and mentally.