Fitness Stretching

Fitness is very important to lead a long healthy life. It helps an individual to perform the day to day activity with an ease. Lean and flexible muscles can provide a positive contribution to the personality of an individual. There are different types of fitness exercises popular all over the world.  Stretching is very important fitness exercise which makes the muscles flexible. Flexibility of joints is the most important measure of your fitness as it decreases the chances of injuries and increase of Range of Motions (ROM). Warm up is the most important practice that you should follow before start stretching.

The following are different form of stretching exercise for fitness of the body:

1. Side stretch: - This is one of the simplest forms of stretching exercise.  It can be performed in two easy steps. First step is stand up in a straight position, with the finger interlaced at the level of chest. Raise the arms overhead. Stretch the torso, leg and arms. Keep the position for the count of ten. Now slightly band to the right and left for the count of ten. Now repeat the same position with other side and hold this position for almost ten seconds.
2. Static Stretching: - This stretching technique is used for stretching the muscles while our body is at rest. It is poised of several stretching techniques that by and by lengthen your muscle to an elongated position and hold the same position for 15 to 25 seconds. During this holding position or just after the practice, you may feel a gentle warm sensation or discomfort in the muscles and urinary tract.  Static stretching technique includes specialized tension receptors in your muscles. When you do it properly, static stretching technique slightly decreases the sensitivity of tension receptors, which allows your muscles to relax and to be stretched to a greater length.
3. Quadriceps Stretch: - Quadriceps is the name of a specific muscle in the front of your thigh, this muscle is important for lifting your knees and also for increasing your speed. To do this stretching exercise while standing, simply grip hold of any stationary object for making balance with one hand and use other hand for grasping the leg around your ankle, lift it towards the buttocks. This type of stretching is most important for the runners.
   You may also do this exercise by simply lying on the bench, by using a towel wrapped around your ankle to pull your foots towards the buttocks. Your positions should be on the edge of the bench by footing your dangling leg forward, knee bent and leg should be relaxed. You should revise this exercise for ten times and the duration of one time should be ten seconds.

The proper routine of stretching is most important for fitness. If you want to improve your fitness by stretching then manual stretching is not sufficient then you should use the proper stretching equipments. The selection of the stretching equipments should be done according to your health conditions by consulting your physician.