For athletes and exercise enthusiasts alike, stretching the muscles has been a required ritual before any athletic endeavor, from a simple workout to getting ready for “the big game”.
Our editors searched the Web for useful videos covering various aspects of stretching to help you decide what is right for you, and how to achieve your goals.
A word of warning, follow these routines at your own risk, buyer beware, and all that. Now that we’ve gotten the legal stuff out of the way, let’s begin!
1. Do Your Really Need to Stretch? | PictureFit
For every person that tells you stretching is good for you, there’s another someone to tell you it’s not. Truth be told, the value of a good stretch depends entirely on what you are trying to achieve and the specific sport in which you are engaging. This video from the PictureFit education series sorts out the details.
2. Easy Stretches for Beginners | Perfect Fitness TV
If you are just beginning to learn about stretching, you may need a lesson or two before going about it, right? Here’s one we think you’ll like…
3. Flexibility Stretches For Dancers, Cheerleaders & Gymnasts, Beginner Exercises Routine | PsycheTruth
We like this series of videos from PsycheTruth (sounds a bit spacey, but it’s really not). If you’re an amateur athlete in the dance, cheerleader or gymnast category, these stretches will help with flexibility.
4. 30 Days to Splits! | Cassey Ho from Blogilates
Not necessarily for everyone, we just thought it would be interested to see how an athlete trains to do splits simply because they look so darned impossible, let alone learning to do them in a month, which is what this video promises. Take a look…
5. How To Start Running Without Getting Knee Pain | LIVESTRONG
Most people who run and walk worry a lot about the effect on their knees. This video claims to offer stretching exercises that limber and strengthen key muscles so as to minimize impact. Sound too good to be true? Take a look and see what you think.
Well, that’s our take on stretching. We hope you adopt a limbering routine for all the right reasons. It sure feels great afterward! And, may your next workout be injury-free!
Edited by Clifford Yurman