When a baby wakes up from sleeping, it naturally stretches its limbs – flat on its back, arms up above the head and legs kicking up towards the ceiling. Babies are skilled at instinctively knowing what their bodies want to do and they do it quite simply because they follow instinct. You may still find that you naturally stretch out your body when you wake up or yawn, but then the day begins and your body sets to motion to work through the demands of the busy day where we mostly ignore the needs and wants of our limbs, muscles and joints.
Now think about how long you spend sitting or standing during a school day. Aside from PE, do your muscles, limbs and joints experience the full range of motion and enjoy the benefit of stretching often enough?
Stretching in the morning and before you go to sleep is widely understood to benefit your mental and physical wellbeing. As well as the physical benefits of stretching your muscles and exercising your joints, stretching is also known to promote cell growth, helps your organs function properly and can increase endorphins to enhance and lift your mood. Stretching also can lower your heart rate, which reduces strain on your heart and causes your blood pressure to become more consistent. It is easy to do, free of charge, can be done almost anywhere and really sounds like we all could benefit from more of it in our lives.
Challenge yourself this week to stretch; your brain and body will thank you both now and in the future.
