If we had a nickel for every time we’ve been asked when to incorporate stretching... well... let’s just say we’d have A LOT of nickels. If you are one of many who is interested in learning the most cutting-edge methods to prevent injury and improve your quality of life, then here is how you do it.

We’ve got the most critical times to incorporate stretching into your routine.

Incorporate Stretching Before Your Workout

Think of your pre-workout stretch as a daily limber. Your goal is to loosen up your muscles and promote blood flow, which reduces the chances of muscle strain. This is especially effective if you workout first thing in the morning, or after a long day at the office.

This full body limber should take no more than 10 min and it should loosen your entire body.

Now we realize we started our workout with a stretch, but how are we suppose we finish it?

After Your Workout

We cannot stress enough, the importance of a proper cool-down stretch. Yep! Your post-workout routine is just as important as the workout itself.

This is a perfect opportunity to incorporate some flexibility training. Your muscles have already been warmed and fatigued during your workout and they are primed for the benefits of stretching. Adding as little as 5-10 minutes of stretching after your gymnastics workout will significantly reduce muscle tension and promote faster recovery.

When You Feel Extra Stiff

If you’re like most adults, then you probably need to stretch more! A lot more. This means you will need dedicated time in addition to before and after workouts. It’s important to dedicate an entire workout to improve your flexibility.

But why worry about flexibility?

Because a few sets of 30-second stretches is nowhere near enough to offset a lifetime’s worth of physical inactivity. The fact of the matter is… most adults don’t know how to stretch effectively.

The solution?

Enter the GB Stretch Series: specifically designed to help you break through plateaus in your flexibility training and improve your active and passive flexibility.

What Stretching Can do to Transform Your Body

Getting in amazing shape is more than having boulder-sized biceps and six-pack abs. For most adults, the goal is simply to restore their natural range of motion so they can move without pain.

The truth is: Our everyday lives are demanding. Between long hours at a desk, time spent in your car, and anything else life throws your way, it’s easy to let your physical health fall by the wayside.

Stretching regularly not only helps reduce pain and stiffness due to inactivity, but it also makes you ridiculously strong in the long run.

In the words of Coach Christopher Sommer, “If the best athletes in the world are stretching their asses off, why aren’t you?”

Improving your flexibility is a race that is won not with speed, but with patience and consistency, so dial in your GymnasticBodies Flexibility Training and learn to stretch the correct way.