Unlock Your Superpowers: How Flexibility Makes You Fitter, Stronger, and Faster!

If you are looking to improve your fitness, you are likely planning to work out in some way, whether it be running on the treadmill, weightlifting or playing sports. These activities have visible results such as weight loss, increased muscle mass and stamina. However, flexibility, often referred to as the third pillar of fitness (along with cardiovascular conditioning and strength training), is often overlooked. Fitness experts say that flexibility is just as important, if not more so, than other fitness goals in achieving overall health. Do your muscles move in the correct range of motion required for your workout?

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1) Flexibility helps prevent injuries

You can't stretch one part and expect it to fit. It's the same with muscles. If you are preparing for the gym or a sport where you must move quickly, your muscles must be compact. You can't suddenly stretch them to another level and expect them to function the same.

If your joints and muscles are too tight, you run the risk of getting injuries such as pulls, aches, pains and bruises more easily. As limberness decreases with age, it's easy to hurt yourself doing even simple tasks such as lunging to catch something or jogging up the stairs. even if you are aerobically fit, as your muscles and joints may not work at the same level as they did when you were younger.

2) Flexibility training can reduce stress levels

Yoga and stretching force you to slow down, breathe and relax, which can be soothing to both the mind and body. Dedicate your weekends to dynamic stretching and mobilisation work to prepare your body for the week ahead. Lacrosse balls are great for releasing trigger points in your body, which can help performance. They won't stretch your muscles excessively, but keep them in the position to open just enough to do what you need. Also, if you keep working hard on your muscles all the time and don't give them rest, you could harm yourself.

3) A flexible muscle can be a stronger one

When a muscle is stretched, the tendons (or muscle fibres) are slowly lengthened, and every time you repeat the stretch, the length continues to increase. Longer fibres cause the muscles to increase in size as well. When you put your muscles under significant stress, you are contracting that muscle, which shortens it. You need to take that muscle back to its original position at some point because shortened muscles will always cause injury. Mobilization is important; it takes your muscles back to their actual length.

4) It can improve your posture

If you spend several hours each day sitting and facing the screen of your computer, you may be prone to poor posture, which can cause back, core and neck muscles to shorten over time, leading to back issues, neck pain, headaches and muscle pains. This also makes the body stiff, which can cause muscles to tear or pull and exacerbate the problem.

Keeping this in mind, can you breathe in that position? if you are trying to stretch and you can't breathe properly there is something wrong. A stretch should not be uncomfortable but relaxing and heal the muscles of your body.