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Written by Tania
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It is always important to maintain your body's flexibility but as you
get older and can no longer rely on youthful resilience to keep you
supple, the benefits of flexibility training become ever more
pronounced.
Most people's bodies acquire a measure of tension and stiffness over
time - even sportsmen and keep-fit enthusiasts rarely make use of their
full range of motion. As the years go by, habitual muscular tensions
may start to pull your posture out of alignment and you may lose much
of your youthful flexibility. Regualr training is a useful way to
counteract this process, particularly if you suffer from joint and
muscle pain. By keeping limber, you'll move more freely, feel more
energetic and perform life's daily chores more easily.
Stretch and Relax
The key to maintaining your body's natural flexibility and being able
to move freely and easily lies with stretching. Controlled, sensible
stretching releases tightness in your muscles, imporves the range of
movement in your joints, prevents stiffness adn cramps and can help you
to maintain good body alignment and mobility. Even if your joints are
inflamed and arthritic, a program of gentle, regular stretching can
help to ease the pain and discomfort and reduce inflammation.
Yoga and Tai Chi
Many people still regard stretching in purely functional terms: as a
necessary but unexciting follow-up to the main workout. In the East,
however, flexibility is almost a religion: mind-body therapists such as
yoga and tai chi place the emphasis squarely on stretching, relaxation
and good posture. Both tai chi and yoga offer an excellent way for
older people to stay flexible, relaxed and tension free.
Relaxation
Your emotional state can have an effect on your flexibility. If you
feel stressed, for example, the muscles at the top of your shoulders
and neck contract and tighten. This can lead to headaches, sore neck
and even joint compression. Flexibility training counteracts these
problems by releasing the tension in your muscles, making you feel more
relaxed. You may find that listening to music and focusing on your
breathing can also aid relaxation as you stretch.
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