Stretches for both the upper and lower body!

If you ever have a massage session with me, you'll recall that at some point, I will talk about stretching. Whether you work all day at your desk, or a very physical job running around on your feet, stretching will help improve blood circulation while elongating your muscles, increases flexibility, improves your  day to day range of motion, and it is just FEELS NICE.

I dance and perform on the stage, as well as physically work with my body on a regular basis as a massage therapist. I am accustomed to some pretty intense and tricky stretches. Often times, I find myself resorting to the tried and true basics. FUNCTIONAL range of motion stretching is honestly the best for you, especially before workouts.. but that takes more "work". Will you realistically lunge down the hallway at work or in your house in order to get to the  kitchen or break room? Eh...UNLIKELY! If you are, however, willing to take some time for yourself to simply breathe and quietly-or with your favorite tunes-stretch and get some movement in your body, then I'll take it!! AND SO SHOULD YOU!

I really appreciate the accessibility of these stretches. They are simple and effective, and if done regularly, you will absolutely feel a difference. In a perfect world, you would do both of these videos everyday. Alas, if you could do both the upper and lower body videos at least 2-3 times a week, and pick a couple of the stretches from each video to do every day, you'll be in better shape than most. The key is listening to the instructions and FORM. That goes with any exercise or stretching routine. Please also, have realistic expectations of yourself. Don't beat yourself up when you can't touch your toes or touch the ground, but the 24 year old yogi/model demo can. A.) Have you EVER been able to? B.) When was the last time you stretched? REALLY stretched, not just the little 2 minute thing you do before you get on the treadmill. Know your limits and recognize when your body is telling you you're overdoing it. If you feel PAIN-and know the difference between pain and discomfort, simply because you're not accustomed to it-stop immediately.

I love the FitnessBlender channel on YouTube. There are several full length work outs for FREE, with labeled categories to help you find the right workout to address your needs. If you're just trying to get some basic mobility and get "loosened up", I'd suggest these two videos below.

This is the Lower Body Stretches for Flexibility routine
And here is the Upper Body Stretches routine!!


I enjoy FitnessBlender, so check out their other videos, too!

If you wanted to see an example of some functional stretches, you can check out this video. In short, the difference is you going through actual motions WHILE stretching. You always pull a muscle when you perform an action right? STRETCH for movement.

If you want to learn more about the different kinds of stretches, visit this link on exercisebiology.com

Remember, it is always good to check with a physician before starting new exercise routines. Hope this has been useful! Have a fantastic day!! :D
~Valerie