Stretching

• Ready? Set! 5 Exercises For Spring

  Understanding how your body responds to exercise is like how it feels when you press on the gas pedal in your car and you get up to 55 mph in a heart beat. Spring is...[more]

• 4 TRX Suspension Training Exercises You Can Do at Home.

  The benefits of training with a TRX Suspension Training System for just about everyone are undeniable. From hard core athletes to traveling executives to the busy stay at home mom, the portability and versatility make...[more]

• 8 Band Exercises in 8 Minutes

  Many of us spend endless hours on a computer or stuck behind a desk each day, but our bodies are meant to move! Exercise bands (especially the ones with handles) are a great way to...[more]

• 2012 So Far: FitDay Users Share Their Fitness Success

  We're well in to 2012 - far enough to see some real results on the scales and around our waistlines. But this is also the time when New Year's Resolutions can start to unravel and...[more]

• Get Moving! 5 Ways to Work Your Core

  Here are fives ways to help you develop the waist that you've been working towards. Once you've already begun to clean up your diet, your next step is to start an exercise routine that combines...[more]

• Real FitDay Users Share: What Was Your "A-Ha" Moment?

  What sparked you to embark on your fitness journey? For many of us, it was one moment or incident - the "a-ha" moment - that got our butts in gear and changed our lives forever....[more]

• New Year, New You: 6 Easy Ways to Get Moving

  Well, the New Year has arrived and you're sitting down thinking about how you're going to make this year the best by getting fit. You can do this by making your health your number...[more]

• 10 Tools to Help Keep You on Track

  1. Good Pair of Shoes Make sure you have a pair of shoes that fit you well and are made for the type of activity you plan to do. For example, don't plan to jog...[more]

• 4 Back Stretching Exercises for Women

  These back stretching exercises can be used to loosen your back muscles, which will reduce pain and make it much more comfortable to move around. Regular day to day activities will often lead to...[more]

• How to Stretch Out Sore Back Muscles

  Knowing some simple steps to get you out of pain and prevent future pain can be essential when suffering with sore back muscles. Committing to a daily back stretching program can mean the difference...[more]

• 3 Rotator Cuff Exercises

  Rotator cuff exercises are meant to strengthen your shoulder, especially the part that acts to help your shoulder with its circular motion. The rotator cuff is the stabilizer of your shoulder and consists of...[more]

• 5 Sciatica Exercises for Pain Relief

  Sciatica exercises focus on relieving pain in the lower back and legs, which are associated with damage of the radicular nerve. In most cases, exercise is more beneficial than bed rest; the movement will...[more]

• How to Know if You're Doing Proper Sciatica Exercises

  Sciatica exercises, if done properly, can stop sciatica pain in its tracks. The problem is that most people start with the wrong form and the wrong intention, falling into habitual exercises that can do...[more]

• Is Working Out with a Pulled Groin Muscle a Bad Idea?

  Once you experience a pulled groin muscle, it is too late to think about stretching. Often the key to preventing injuries such as this is as simple as warming up. Now that you are...[more]

• 3 Ways to Stretch a Pulled Groin

  A pulled groin can really be a painful experience, and a nagging ordeal because it actually interferes with your ability to do normal activities properly, including stretching your groin. When you have a pulled...[more]

• How to Exercise with a Pulled Groin

  A pulled groin muscle is challenging enough on its own, but if you want to exercise with it, you have to watch out for additional factors. A pulled groin is considered an injury to...[more]

• 3 Groin Stretches to Try before Working Out

  Groin stretches constitute an ideal means to help prevent injury to your groin when you're working out. You want to stretch the adductor muscles of your thigh to decrease the chances of getting a...[more]

• The 5 Most Effective Calf Stretches

  Calf stretches can open the tight network of lower leg muscles that sometimes seize up after overuse or other underlying factors. You may forget to give attention to this area when stretching, concentrating instead...[more]

• The Best Way to Stretch Your Quadriceps

  Taking time to stretch your quadriceps muscles is important both before and after an intense workout. When you do so, you decrease the chances of injuries during your workout and reduce muscle soreness following...[more]

• 4 Stretches for after Working Out

  After working out the last thing you probably want to do is spend time stretching. It is already difficult to find time to get into the gym or to head out for a run,...[more]

• Should I Be Stretching after Working Out?

  Stretching after working out is a highly recommended practice. The benefits of stretching before a workout are often discussed, emphasizing its role in injury prevention. When you stretch after a workout, you benefit from...[more]

• 4 Ways to Relieve Knee Pain

  Knee pain can be frustrating, especially if it is a chronic problem, such as patelloefemoral pain syndrome (chronic pain of the knee cap). Fortunately, many knee problems can be solved without surgery or other...[more]

• Knee Pain: When is it a Serious Problem?

  If you have knee pain, it could indicate a variety of problems. Your knee pain could be nothing more than transient pain from overuse. Conversely knee pain could indicate something more serious such as...[more]

• 4 Effective Hamstring Stretches

  If the backs of your legs feel tight, you probably have tight hamstrings. Tight hamstrings are very common and doing hamstring stretches can help you to become more limber. Having tight hamstrings can contribute...[more]

• To Stretch or Not to Stretch? That is the Question

  To stretch or not to stretch is an important question. Stretching increases flexibility, reduces your risk of injury, and improves your overall circulation. However, it is possible to injure yourself while stretching if you...[more]

• Unwind and Relax with Body Massages after a Workout

  Body massages are a great way to relax. They are particularly enjoyable and beneficial after a good workout. If you are looking for a way to unwind after a strenuous exercise then you might...[more]

• 3 Pre Workout Stretches for Swimmers

  Pre workout stretches are a praiseworthy idea if you want to swim without injuring yourself. Another benefit of stretching before you swim is to improve your performance once you're in the water. Swimming can...[more]

• 4 Post Workout Stretches

  Stretching post workout not only makes your body feel great, but is also an important way to prevent any possible athletic injury. Though there are a number of different stretches you can include in your...[more]

• 6 Stretches to Help Avoid Muscle Injury While Running

  As with any workout regimen, running puts you at risk for muscle injury. When you do sports or rigorous physical exercise, it's important to take preventive measures to ensure an injury-free session. Even more...[more]

• Using Yoga to Heal Muscle Injury

  Muscle injury can range from mild to serious with potential long term effects. There are many striated levels of muscle which when injured can present as a palpable bruise or a deep, tiny muscle...[more]

• Stretching before Working Out: How it Acts as a Circulation Booster

  Stretching as a circulation booster is a long-established fact in the annals of medical research. All stretching really is is a form of physical exercise that elongates a specific set of skeletal muscles. The...[more]

• How to Optimize Your Run by Stretching before Running

  The importance of stretching before a workout has become an increasingly neglected part of many people’s time on the pavement, but it’s easy to optimize your run by stretching before running. While stretching in...[more]

• 4 Stretching Techniques for Your Neck

  If you have some tension in your neck, there are some excellent stretching techniques that you can try to help you loosen up your muscles. You may want to perform some stretches even before...[more]

• Stretching Techniques Explained: Why It's an Important Practice before Working Out

  Stretching techniques come in handy before you begin your workout. Sometimes taken for granted or dismissed as an activity that is non-essential, stretching is in fact a practice that is beneficial for you before...[more]

• 3 Stretching Techniques to Do as a Couple

  Doing stretching techniques as a couple is an enjoyable way to increase flexibility. There are many types of individual stretches that a couple can also perform together by assisting each other during the movement....[more]

• 3 Stretching Techniques to Loosen You Up on an Airplane

  Flying can be a miserable experience, however, some basic stretching techniques can help to loosen up your body during long flights, making them somewhat more enjoyable. Stretching not only helps to make your body...[more]

• Sitting in a Chair All Day? 6 Reasons Why You Should Utilize Office Stretching Exercises

  If you're tied to a desk all day long, chances are the last thing on your mind is office stretching. Not doing so, however, can lead to a number of problems. Office stretching doesn't...[more]

• 4 Office Stretches to Keep You Energized and Alert at Work

  People often avoid performing office stretches because they are concerned that they will appear silly to their coworkers. There are several stretches that are not only effective, but can also be camouflaged so as...[more]

• How Bikram Hot Yoga Can Help Relieve Stress

  Bikram hot yoga is a form of yoga that was developed by the multimillionaire Indian yoga guru, Bikram Choudhury. This system of yoga is one that was popularized in the 1970s. Called hot yoga...[more]

• Bikram Hot Yoga: Worth the Sweat?

  Bikram Hot Yoga is one of the newer forms of yoga, and it was introduced by accomplished yogi Bikram Choundury almost 30 years ago. This form of yoga requires you to perform breathing exercises...[more]

• 3 Yoga Stretching Poses

  Yoga stretching not only helps improve flexibility in the muscle tissues themselves, but can increase flexibility in the fascia, or membrane sheath that covers the muscles. Yoga can also make tendons and ligaments stronger...[more]

• 4 Stretches for Snowboarders

  In order to do well in the sport of snowboarding, snowboarders need to perform regular exercises to build strength in certain parts of the body and develop new skills. The sport requires participants to descend from a...[more]

• 5 Stretches to Improve Posture

  Poor posture is becoming an increasingly common complaint in this day of computer-based jobs and entertainment. We are spending more and more time in front of our workstations and in our cars, which can...[more]

• 8 Stretches to Perform before Snowboarding

  Snowboarding for extended periods of time puts stress and tension on several muscles in the legs. The bending combined with side to side torso twisting also places continual pressure on the lower and upper...[more]

• 4 Stretches to Perform before Downhill Skiing

  Downhill skiing requires both balance and strength. Professional athletes who take part in the sport train throughout the entire year for a number of events, while casual skiing advocates often throw on a pair...[more]

• The Benefits of Stretching after a Period of Inactivity

  Whether you've been unable to workout for a few months, too busy at work to make it to the gym or simply taking a break from working out, there are some benefits of stretching...[more]

• The Benefits of Stretching for Pain Relief

  Increased flexibility is just one of the benefits of stretching. Stretching is also key to pain relief and healing from injury. This article will discuss the many ways stretching helps you feel better and...[more]

• The Benefits of Stretching during Your Daily Routine

  The benefits of stretching range from increasing a sense of well-being to preventing injury from repetitive, everyday activities. Even if you never break a sweat, you may be taxing muscles and joints by working...[more]

• Benefits of Stretching During Pregnancy

  The benefits of stretching can be enjoyed throughout your pregnancy. Stretching during pregnancy can help keep you fit and can help relieve many of the aches and pains and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with...[more]

• 5 Benefits of Stretching

  Although it is hotly debated whether or not stretching helps prevent injury, the other benefits of stretching are numerous and factual. Heavily utilized in pilates and yoga, stretching is widely supported today as a...[more]

• Benefits of Dynamic Stretching in Overall Fitness

  For those interested in optimizing a fitness routine or training session, dynamic stretching can help contribute to a solution. More trainers and coaches are looking at this kind of stretching regimen to prepare clients...[more]

• Dynamic Stretching versus Static Stretching

  In a face off would dynamic stretching give you as good as, better than, worse than or just the same results as static stretching? Dynamic stretching involves movements (such as wide arm circles) that more...[more]

• Using Dynamic Stretching for Sport Training

  When it comes to stretches prior to a sporting event, many athletes choose forms of dynamic stretching to get their muscles and limbs ready for intense activity. Stretching plays a vital role in preparing...[more]

• How Shoulder Stretching Broadens Wingspan

  Shoulder stretching is one of the ways that you can help broaden your wingspan. Though you may not be able to drastically improve your wingspan by using shoulder stretching, it is one of the best ways...[more]

• Why Shoulder Stretching Increases Upper Body Strength

  There is a very simple reason why shoulder stretching is so important when it comes to increasing upper body strength. In general, many of the muscles in your shoulders are not used during everyday activities....[more]

• How Yoga Stretching Compliments Strength Training

  Yoga stretching is a more targeted and exact approach to stretching, because it emphasizes both the breathing and the positioning of the body. With emphasis on breathing, it's possible to focus directly on the...[more]

• Can Yoga Stretching Contribute to Weight Loss?

  Yoga stretching can help you lose weight in several ways. You're more able to lose weight under certain physical and psychological conditions that yoga can help you achieve. There are different types of yoga,...[more]

• Is Yoga Stretching Key to Toning?

  Yoga stretching is a great way to prepare your body for your favorite toning exercises. With an emphasis on proper body alignment and conscious breathing yoga stretching can make toning easier and quicker, by helping...[more]

• Yoga Stretching versus Regular Stretching

  Yoga stretching puts an emphasis on your breath and your body position, while regular stretching can include static stretching (what you used to do in gym class) and/or dynamic and ballistic stretching, which can involve...[more]

• How Yoga Stretching Changes Your Physique

  Yoga stretching can help you change the shape of your body in several ways. It's important to attend a class so that an instructor can help you maintain the proper form for the best...[more]

• Try These 4 Stretching Techniques with a Partner

  When working with weights, it's always a must to spend some time working on your flexibility. Utilizing stretching techniques before your workout warms up your body and gets your blood flowing to the muscles that...[more]

• Stretching Techniques with Equipment

  There are many stretching techniques you can use with a variety of equipment, ranging from gym machines to household items. Stretching benefits the body by increasing blood flow and keeping muscles and joints limber....[more]

• 8 Tips for Proper Stretching Techniques

  Those just beginning stretching techniques may want a few pointers. Many beginners seek help from pro trainers or others to figure out an optimal strategy for injury-free stretching. Here are some of the most...[more]

• 3 Stretch Routine Myths to Ignore

  During this time of year many people are looking to add an exercise routine to their lifestyle, one thing that has been known to come with exercise is stretching, however most people either do...[more]

• Starting a Stretch Routine for Beginners

  Starting a stretch routine allows you to reap all the benefits that stretching has to offer. Stretching exercises should be performed in a comfortable area with no distractions, so that you can focus on reaching...[more]

• How Necessary is a Stretch Routine?

  A stretch routine is an absolutely necessary part of any workout program and can even be of immense benefit to those who don't work out. Flexibility is a key component of fitness, and a...[more]

• Establishing a Stretch Routine before Workouts

  Before embarking on an exercise routine or engaging in any prolonged physical activity, it's important to establish a stretch routine. Stretching, in addition to being intrinsic to good health and mobility, is also one...[more]

• How to Stretch Your Arms

  Stretching is an important and often overlooked part of exercise, as how to stretch properly can be confusing. As muscles shorten over time, they become stiff. Using them suddenly without priming them beforehand increases...[more]

• How to Stretch Your Forearms

  Knowing how to stretch your forearms can be of great benefit to athletes, as well as those at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. Here's how to stretch your forearm to relieve muscle tension and...[more]

• How to Stretch for Pain Relief

  Sciatica, along with back and neck pain, can feel almost debilitating, but in many cases, learning how to stretch the muscles along your spine will lead to a much better outcome over time than...[more]

• How to Stretch for Swimming

  While many people understand how to stretch, they may not understand that stretches can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of different types of athletes. Runners, dancers, swimmers, weight lifters and gymnasts all...[more]

• How to Stretch for Cycling

  Cyclists should know how to stretch to reap the most benefit from their stretching routine. Stretching can help prevent muscle soreness, increase flexibility over time by lengthening muscles and can give cyclists an increased...[more]

• How to Stretch for Running

  If you don't know how to stretch for running, then you're risking shortening your muscles and hampering your ability to run effectively. Stretches for runners work primarily on the muscles of the legs. Here...[more]

• How to Stretch before Weightlifting

  Knowing how to stretch before weightlifting and exercise will decrease the risk of muscle tears and more serious injuries. Depending on the exercises one plans to take part in during a training session, muscle...[more]

• How to Stretch Your Hip

  Knowing how to stretch your hip can be crucial for those who suffer from lower back pain and limited movement, as tight hips are often a primary cause of lower back pain. Here's how...[more]

• How to Stretch Your Calves

  Knowing how to stretch your calves is crucial for runners and all types of athletes. A strained or sore calf muscle can make running and even walking unbearable. Here's how to stretch your calf...[more]

• How to Stretch Properly: Moves to Avoid

  A lot of "how to stretch" or proper stretching technique is all about steady, smooth moves in a property limited range of motion. In general, you want to avoid any movements that strain your...[more]

• How to Stretch Your Hamstrings

  Knowing how to stretch your hamstrings will help prevent muscle tear and other serious muscle related injuries. Several pieces of simple equipment and devices found in the gym help with providing thorough stretches for...[more]

• How to Stretch for Dancing

  Dancers should know how to stretch to maintain the high levels of flexibility that they need. Stretching properly also helps dancers and other athletes maintain and increase physical strength and endurance over time. Here...[more]

• How to Stretch Your Neck

  Knowing how to stretch your neck can help you warm up the muscles of this delicate region before a workout, and it can also help you relieve the tension of a long day. Here's...[more]

• How to Stretch Your Glutes

  Knowing how to stretch your glutes, or the muscles of your buttocks, is key to any fitness program, and can help you avoid injuries and discomfort in your lower back, hips and legs. Here's...[more]

• The 5 Best Back Stretches at the Gym

  The gym has equipment that can help you maximize the benefits of your back stretches. Some of the main equipment you'll use includes the exercise ball. It's important with back stretches to make sure...[more]

• 3 Back Stretches for Your Lower Back

  Back stretches can go a long way towards relieving the muscle tension that is the most common cause of back pain. Stretches for your lower back should be done carefully to avoid injury. Here...[more]

• Benefits of Back Stretches

  Stretching is a crucial component of any workout routine. Stretches warm up the body and help you avoid injuries during workouts. Back stretches in particular are beneficial to people of all ages. Here are...[more]

• 3 Back Stretches for Your Upper Back

  Back stretches can relieve the most common cause of back pain, which is tight, tense muscles. Back stretches for the upper back can also improve posture and increase energy levels. They can even decrease...[more]

• 4 Back Stretches for the Office

  Back stretches can be useful for office workers, since sitting at a desk all day can make your back ache. Many helpful back stretches can be performed right at your desk. If you have...[more]

• The Best Back Stretches for Back Pain Relief

  Back stretches can greatly help to alleviate back pain. Regular stretching increases blood flow to the area, which helps relieve pain and aids in healing from injury. With any stretching program, it's important to...[more]