Stretching is one of those habits that has no visible benefits, but is so important that you cannot neglect. If you practice yoga frequently, you’ll be getting all the stretching you need.

However, if you’re not, this article has your name written all over it. Very often when people think of exercise, they often think of cardio and/or resistance training. People don’t usually think about stretching.

It’s usually just something you do after you work out. The truth is that stretching is extremely important and you should dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to it.

“But I don’t have time!!!”

Of course, you don’t… and that makes it even more important for you to stretch. If you work at the office daily, you’re often hunched over your computer in a bent over position. Your shoulders will be tight and so will your neck muscles.

Sitting for hours will also tighten your hamstrings. They all need stretching.

“But what if I exercise at the gym?”

Excellent question. You need to stretch EVEN more.

Running, weight lifting, and many resistance training exercises will leave your muscles sore and tight. By stretching daily, you’ll help to ease the tension in the muscles and this will not only prevent soreness, but also injuries.

There are countless stories of bodybuilders who can lift massive amounts of weight at the gym, but ask them to help you move the couch in you home and they just might pull their back.

Why?

They’re not flexible. That’s why. The muscles are for aesthetics… but when it comes to being functional, flexibility is very important. The problem with stretching is that no matter how much you do it, you will not look stronger. Because of this, people often neglect it since there no visible reward.

The truth is that being flexible yields many other benefits. It decreases pain and muscle soreness. It improves blood circulation and boosts your energy. A body that’s ‘tight’ and cramped up requires more energy to move.

A flexible body moves with ease. You’ll find it easier to get around when you’re flexible. Ideally, you should dedicate 15 minutes every evening to stretch your back, shoulders, neck, hamstrings and calves.

Do NOT do static stretches before a workout because stretching will adversely impact your performance once your muscles are relaxed. Instead, you may wish to do light cardio followed by dynamic stretches to warm up your muscles and ligaments so that you can work with weights or do sprints or other activities.

ALWAYS warm up before you exercise. These few minutes will prevent many injuries and as you get older, stretching becomes even more important.

Even at the office, you may wish to take short breaks every 2 hours to do some neck and shoulder rotations. A few hip circles and hamstring stretches will help to keep you limber.

If you work for 8 hours, that’s four 5-minute stretch sessions which equates to 20 minutes of stretching. You’ll feel much better over time as you become more flexible.

Joining a yoga class and doing yoga 4 to 5 times a week will keep your body strong and supple. It’s one of the best forms of exercise that helps to strengthen your muscles while stretching your body. Initially, it may seem challenging, but after a month or two, you’ll love it.

By now you’ll realize just how important stretching is. Do it throughout the day and reap the benefits of being limber.