Three Benefits Five Minutes of Stretching Each Day Will Improve Your Health

Have you ever noticed that one of the first things your dog or cat does in the morning is a big long stretch?  Animals are very intuitive.  They are in touch with their bodies and know what their bodies need to feel well.

In our Fit in 60 Barre classes, occasionally clients are busy and don’t really have time to stay for the stretching portion of class.  But that is SO important to the health of a body!

1. Stretching helps improve range of motion and flexibility.  Much lower back pain is caused by tight hips and hamstrings.  The tight hips and hamstrings pull on the back and literally change the alignment of your spine.
2. When you stretch your muscles, you are distributing the blood and nutrients through the body – including lactic acid which is created in muscle work – and reduce muscle soreness.
3. Stretching is proven to calm the mind, allow the mind to relax and release.

My husband, Mike, has lower back pain.  So one thing that we have found that really helps with his back pain is a short stretch morning and night.

Before you get out of bed each morning – press back into a child’s pose stretch.

To do this, put your knees as wide as your hips and sit on your knees, sit your glutes back over your heels as you reach the arms long in front of you.  You can also walk both arms to the right in front of you and both arms to the left in front of you to stretch out the back obliques!

So tomorrow – before you just jump out of bed, reach those arms long and STRETCH!  Your body will thank you for it!
______________________________________________________________
Originally from the Midwest, Amy moved to San Diego in 2001. A graduate of Valparaiso University, Amy had been a Financial Advisor since 1997. When Amy began taking Pilates with her neighbor Wendy, in 2006, she fell in love with the method and benefits of the program and knew she wanted to help others achieve their fitness goals. It was not until Amy took her first barre class that she discovered her true passion for fitness. She loved the challenge and energy of each class. And more importantly, she was excited by the results as her body became more toned than through any other workout routine she had tried in the past. Amy would be one of the best testimonials for Fit in 60 Pilates and Barre. In less than a month’s time, attending 4-5 classes a week, Amy went from a size 10/12 to a size 6. She came home one day and told her husband, Mike that “if every girl knew this, every girl would do it.” Amy is passionate about getting to know her clients and provide modifications and corrections to challenge every client, while making classes as safe as possible. Amy lives in Carlsbad with her husband, Mike, and her dog Emma. She loves what she does, and is thrilled to present the Fit in 60 workout to Carlsbad and Carmel Valley and is eager to help women look and feel great!