RYPT Active: Stress and Stretching
- Changes to enjoy your fitness
- Achieve more in the gym
STRETCHING
It's only once you have an injury that you appreciate the value of stretching. Furthermore, it becomes evident the intricacy of stress and physical tension.
Mental stress will manifest itself as physical stress if you let it. Failure to deal with stress results in muscles getting tense and the obvious physiological reaction of hunching and straining otherwise relaxed muscles.
If you follow my blogs you will know the value that I place on mindfulness and keeping a clear mental outlook. There are so many apps for these days that you needn't worry about being lost with regards to mindfulness. These apps will guide you through the process in a simplified step-by-step manner to ensure that even from the beginning, that you get fantastic result and understand the why (therefore over time reducing your depend upon them).
Through years of running and gym-work with a concoction of infrequent stretching, I recently suffered a twisted knee. Not only was it extremely painful but it has had a long term impact on my fitness. My capacity for training has been reduced to a level where (even after two months) I'm monitoring my progress.
The frustration of not being able to train at the same intensity has, ironically, been stressful.
I have learned the value of stretching and using the dreaded foam roller. As much as there may be limited scientific research backing up the value of it anecdotally I feel considerably better with range of movement and strength for it.
Regardless of the training that you're doing, muscles will become strained due to usage and exertion. It's important to keep stretching in your routine despite the perception of nominal impact.
As with any change, the best way is to implement gradually even five minutes per day will help. Incorporate this into your routine and soon it will become second nature. If you don't have a stretching plan then the body will have little way to release the tension and will add to pressure on the most strained areas like back, neck and knees.
Fitness is (and should be) primarily about lifestyle, exercise and nutrition but stretching should also factor into the equation.
As strong as your bones, joints and muscles become, they cannot sustain continued strain without rest. Therefore, relaxation and even a cold shower now and again is useful for contracting muscles post exercise.
Expending energy is crucial but it needs to be sustainable and that is the focus of RYPT. The goal should be long term success not a short term burst of activity.
For other ideas on how to catalyse your workout, try a free trial of the RYPT app by enquiring today! With hundreds of variations of exercises and training plans, the RYPT app is guaranteed to keep you motivated.
Discover all the RYPT blogs on Medium or visit www.rypt.trainerize.com for a free trial of the RYPT fitness app.
Ross
