Stretching or stretching is a combination of the basics of sports, dance and yoga. While developing coordination of movements, joint mobility and muscle elasticity at the same time, stretching at the same time promotes the burning of fatty tissue. The result is flexibility, lightness, freedom of body movement.
Stretching in translation from English means "stretching". Muscles are made up of fibers that can contract under stress. Stretching exercises, on which stretching is based, allow the muscles to return to their previous state.
There are two main types of stretching:
- dynamic (stretching in motion),
- static.
Dynamic stretching is usually a movement with a fairly large amplitude (for example, wide swinging legs or arms), and this type of fitness requires serious preliminary preparation. The disadvantage of dynamic stretching is that the muscles are stretched for a very short period of time, falling at the extreme points of the amplitude.
Static stretching involves a very slow exercise, there is no fast pace or sudden movements, while the muscles remain as stretched as possible for a long time. Slow performance of exercises allows you to gradually increase the load (which is especially important for people who cannot boast of excellent physical shape), avoid injuries and pain in overworked muscles, and teaches you to control your own body. All this makes static stretching very popular with beginners.
Stretching exercises are an effective way to stay toned. During stretching sessions:
- blood circulation improves, muscle clamps are removed, muscle elasticity increases,
- increased blood circulation in the area of the joints, the joints become more mobile, the risk of salt deposition decreases;
- deep and focused breathing both soothes and improves brain function,
- the flow of oxygen to the body contributes to the successful breakdown of adipose tissue.
Another plus of stretching is the absence of age restrictions. However, since age usually goes hand in hand with chronic diseases, people of retirement or pre-retirement age need to do stretching under the supervision of a trainer, and increase the load gradually and carefully.
However, the coach is recommended for everyone at the initial stage. But what is good about stretching - having mastered the complex, you can do exercises at home, on your own, at a convenient time for yourself. And this is especially important for people who are heavily loaded with "sedentary" work and lead a sedentary lifestyle, into which regular trips to the gym hardly "fit".
What are the results of doing this type of fitness? The most noticeable effect is a significant improvement in motor coordination. This is felt both during training (the ability to move smoothly facilitates the exercise), and “in life”. Posture improves, it becomes easier to maintain balance, fatigue goes away, and efficiency increases. In addition, the strength of the muscles noticeably increases: after all, stretching exercises "teach" them to spring, to work, regardless of fatigue.
