3 Reasons Why Stretching Isn't Improving Your Flexibility

Let's chat about a really important topic...flexibility & mobility.  

Research tells us that you will likely lose about 10% of your joint range of movement every decade, (unless you do something about it!).  Crazy hey.  🥺

Maintaining flexibility will not only help you feel better and do more fun stuff in life, but it will also...

🌹 Help you to move more freely & be less rigid in your thoughts & beliefs

🌹 Help your muscles & joints do their job properly

🌹Allow your lymph & blood to flow easily through your body

🌹Give you better balance

🌹Allow you to be able to get up and down off the floor more easily to play with your kids or grandkids.

🌹Give you a sense of spaciousness in your body

>> Being able to get up and down off the floor without using your hands is actually a marker for longevity!

So why does stretching only give me temporary relief?

Reason 1:  You're probably not holding your stretches long enough.  When you first stretch a muscle, it actually contracts to prevent tearing (to protect you!).  It takes about 20-30 seconds for the brain to register that the muscle isn't in danger and will switch off the contraction so you can actually ease into the stretch. So make sure you hold for a minimum of 30seconds!

Reason 2:  You have neural tightness or tension.  For some people, it's not actually the muscles that are tight, but the nerves. This is where moving stretches & nerve gliding exercises are important (see my posts on instagram HERE & HERE). 

>>> Hormonal changes as we age can also play a role in neuro-inflammation leaving us feeling stiff & achey.

Reason 3:  You need to build strength!  Sometimes a muscle will get tight because it is compensating for another muscle group not doing their job properly.  So constantly stretching that muscle won't lengthen it, because we need to fix the underlying biomechanical issue.  A tight muscle = a weak muscle!  

>>> For example, really tight inner thigh muscles can be a result of the pelvic floor not doing their job properly.

This is why mobility, especially of your hips and spine, is such a big component of my Pelvic Floor & Core Foundations Program, which you can find out more information about HERE.

A really simple tip for improving your range of motion, is to spend more time sitting on the floor!  Whether that's doing your computer work off a low table, watching TV, playing with the kids/grandkids, or lying on the floor to read a book.  Use plenty of pillows to make it comfortable, especially when you are first beginning.

Let me know how you go with implementing these tips into your flexibility routine!!

You are always WORTH taking care of.

Love Ngaire x