Is your body crying out for a good stretch? You can bet your life, it is.

Maybe you’re suffering with headaches, muscle aches and pains, or restricted range of movement and limited mobility?  So, first things first – STOP IGNORING THE SIGNS. I promise you, you’ll be amazed at how small changes can impact your life so positively. Don’t tell yourself you have a mountain to climb – nobody got to the top of any mountain without doing the work beforehand so let’s just tackle the preparation first before you take on any mountains!

Follow these simple Tips and Guidelines and contact me for a PERSONALISED STRETCH PROGRAMME if you feel you need that extra little bit of support.

Start small. 5 Minutes of Stretch each day will get your body feeling better. Bite-size tasks are less daunting and you’ll be more likely to do them.

Change your mindset. By telling yourself that Stretching isn’t enjoyable, you’ve already set yourself up to fail. If you switch that thought process to one of self-gifting and self-care, you will start to realise how good it feels to do this one simple thing for yourself. If you don’t start, you’ll never know.

Stretch in bed when you wake up. A gentle 5 minute wake up routine is a gift to yourself each morning. It’s the perfect way to ease out tension that you may have accumulated while sleeping. It’s an opportunity to calm your mind and start your day positively and mindfully. 

Look for opportunities not excuses. I bet you could identify at least 5 times in each day that you could throw in a stretch or two, somewhere your body most needs it. Aside from my bedtime wake up routine, I stretch my calfs on the stairs each morning as I’m going to make my coffee. How about stretching your quads (front of thighs) whilst you are brushing your teeth? Laying on the sofa, watching TV – what’s stopping you doing some gentle neck stretches or raising each leg to lengthen out those hamstrings (backs of thighs). Walking through a doorway –  a perfect opportunity to lean in and stretch out that chest and arms! Your posture will improve dramatically after only a few weeks.

Tune in and go gently. For some reason, we have a tendency to push into stretches too hard. The muscles literally work against you when you do that, so go gently. Feel the first resistance and stay there for 30 seconds, then you may find you can move deeper into the stretch and hold it there for a further 30 seconds, especially for areas that are carrying more tension than others.

Don’t worry if you have no idea how to stretch. There are plenty of great apps out there that can support you and help to keep you motivated; and I’m here if you would like a more personalised programme and professional guidance. If you have suffered from injuries, it would be very wise to invest in a more bespoke rehabilitation programme, something I would be really happy to help you with.

Stay bendy, stay healthy.