What happens when we feel stressed?

#stress #stretching 

What happens when we feel stressed? Do you have certain tightness in your body? Do you notice a change in how you react to your environment, people around you and yourself? Stress can affect the entire body from inside out. Our bodies need to find release from the sympathetic activity (fight or flight) to combat the effects of stress.

Science has shown, stretching is used to improve flexibility through 1. the musculoskeletal system and 2. the nervous system. Why are these two systems important? Together they can lead to adaptations in the body including those of the cardiovascular system. Not only is arterial stiffness improved, but also blood pressure!

In conclusion, increasing the time we spend on our flexibility and general range of motion can give us a better quality of life. However, please note that your stretching sessions do not have to be a certain length each day and of the same routine - each day can be treated differently, unique to your body and your needs. And of course, you may have a greater response of the muscle fibers if you utilize Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (or PNF for short) or Presynaptic Inhibition to help the muscles feel safe enough to release in a contraction. While articles contradict the PNF theory of autogenic inhibition, I say always do what feels right in your body and trust your intuition.

For more information, feel free to reach out or follow the link to the article here. And as always, happy stretching!