With all the working out I’m doing, I sure as hell don’t spend enough time stretching, and stretching takes little to no time at all! So this week’s challenge is to stretch after a workout, and if you’re having a rest day, stretch anyway! Who said challenges always had to be physically exerting. Most of the time when I finish working out, I leave the gym and don’t bother stretching because I’m so tired that I can’t be bothered. However, if I can spend 2 hours doing cardio and strength training, I can spend 5 minutes giving my muscles the proper stretching they need.
Challenge #4: Stretch for a total of 5 minutes, holding each stretch for 15 to 20 seconds.
WHY: There are so many benefits to stretching. If done properly, you can improve your flexibility and range of motion, prevent injury, reduce muscle soreness, and most importantly (at least for me), relieve stress!
HOW TO STRETCH: Whatever stretching exercises you decide to use, make sure you gradually go into the stretch! Slowly exert force upon the muscle group you’re stretching and stop if it becomes painful. Remember to take slow, relaxed breaths and exhale while the muscle is stretching. Proper breathing helps blood circulation and also increases the rate at which lactic acid build-up is removed from your muscles. To read more about breathing during stretching, click here.
DURATION: As usual, the challenge will run for a week, from Sunday, March 28 to Saturday, April 3. You should try to do the challenge 6 out of the 7 days.
Let stretching be therapeutic. Purge all of your negative thoughts and find inner peace. Let this short five minutes be YOUR time to relax.
I’ll try to post a song every day for the stretch challenge. If you stretch for the duration of the song, you’ve completed the challenge!
The first song features a band from Texas, Explosions in the Sky. They’re an instrumental, post-rock group who did the entire soundtrack for the film and portions of the TV show, Friday Night Lights.
Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine
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Female. 25 years old. Chinese. Cook. Foodie. UCLA grad. Traveler. Musician. Scuba diver. GWU Law. Runner.
Looooovvveee it! And love the song! I am in! I soooo need this! Today was a no exercise day but I just got off the couch and stretched for the whole song. Felt amazing! I’m in for this week!
Good Idea! – I’m going to suggest though that you stretch before the workout as well.
I already do this after every workout, but I’m totally on board! Stretching before is good, but stretching after is crucial!
.-= Lauren´s last blog Beginner’s!!! Strength Training =-.
I stretch after every workout, but sometimes, a little challenge lurking in the back of your mind will make sure I don’t skip out! If I’m in a hurry, I’ll sometimes leave the gym and stretch when I get home, but that’s typically 45 minutes later, so cutting 5 minutes off my workout time to make stretching a priority is the goal!
Great idea Jess! Like you, I often skimp on the stretching after a workout, even when I know I really should. I’m definitely on board!
.-= Brandon´s last blog Announcing WP-DailyBurn: a DailyBurn widget for WordPress =-.
Sweet! Good to have you on board. I’m really trying to stretch after my workouts because I need to reduce muscle soreness in my legs so I can run more.
Stretching is great! I usually do my legs before cardio and my upper body before weights, but I don’t generally stretch after the work out. I should try it though!
I don’t want to commit and fail to complete another challenge. So I will try to stretch and let you know when I do. I really should do this as I rarely stretch so hopefully I do!