As many people up and get ready for the day, the first thing they usually do is stretch. Even though it is only for a second or two, stretching helps their bodies adjust after waking up.
However, not everyone does stretch in the morning. Stretching upon waking up offers a variety of benefits that last throughout the day. Here are a few reasons why people should stretch in the morning.
Improves Blood Circulation
While it feels great to get a good night’s sleep, laying down for eight hours can hinder blood circulation. In fact, it may be the reason why musculature can feel so stiff in the morning. With sleep, the heart rate as well as blood pressure significantly slows down. By stretching in the morning, you can basically jumpstart your blood circulation, which in turn, boosts energy.
Reduces the Risk of Pain
Another benefit of morning stretching is pain reduction in the muscles and joints. It’s true that pain can happen anytime during the day, but people often experience it in the morning. It’s seen quite often in people who are over 65 or who suffer from certain medical conditions, like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative disc and joint diseases. Stretching helps to keep the body limber, thereby reducing the possibility for tense muscles or stiff joints.
Improves Overall Posture
Another benefit of morning stretches is how it can significantly improve a person’s posture. With desk jobs, it is not uncommon to see people sitting hunched over a computer for long periods of time. This often results in poor posture, which then turns into chronic back pain, chest and shoulder discomfort.
Incorporating stretching into your morning routine elongates muscles and keeps them flexible. It also helps to do a bit of stretching while sitting down throughout the day as well. Stretching can actually deactivate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is activated with high stress levels.
The right type of stretching can help minimize the circuits that kick into overdrive and help maintain not only better posture but also reduce feelings of stress.
Stretching is more than something to do after a long run. In fact, learning how to stretch the right way each morning not only gives us a few extra moments to stay in bed, but it will also help you start the day off on the right foot.
Originally published on AdamGant.net.