Have you ever watched your dog or cat stretch? It looks so refreshing doesn't it? Maybe they are a little on to something that we need to tap into.
Here are 3 benefits of stretching that I found to be interesting:
1. Stretching first thing in the morning can relieve any tension or pain from sleeping the night before. It also helps increase your blood flow and prepares for the day ahead. Stretching before bed relaxes your muscles and helps prevent you from waking up with more pain.
2. Stretching is also good for your mental health. It relieves tension, reduces stress, and increase blood circulation, even if for a short period of time. Reaching for the sky with deep breathing and exhaling at the end of a stretch releases endorphins, chemicals that help reduce the feeling of pain. Plus it just feels good!
3. It increases the blood flow and circulation to your muscles and your brain. It helps with clarity in your thinking and creates a more cheerful mood. So here is a tip, stretch when you are in a position to make a decision. That was you can come from a higher peak state where issues might have not been so clear before.