Fitness For the Body and Mind: Stretching

Fitness For the Body and Mind: Stretching

By Paige Glenn

          Are you not a fan of running? How about soccer? Hockey? Well, pilates, yoga and stretching could be just the exercise for you! It can burn just as many calories as more traditional forms of exercise and it teaches you discipline, focus, relaxation, and pace as well. You are never too old or young to take classes. Anyone has the potential to expand his or her flexibility. Pilates, yoga and stretching are three different activities, but they all tie together.

          The first thing that you should do is to start out with breathing exercises. Breathing loosens the tension in the muscles. Always breathe through the diaphragm. Breathing through the diaphragm is expanding all the air you have into your ribcage. This gives you more breath support and blood flow throughout the body. Breathing through the diaphragm has been known to lower your heart rate and clear your mind rather than breathing through your chest.

          Beginner classes give you the basics and show you how flexible you are and what your ability is. Yoga moves your body out of its range and holds the stretches longer whereas Pilates stays within your range of moves and focusing on taking your time building up stamina. Both are great to do since they are body and mind exercises, and they tone the muscles. It’s a great stress reliever, so that’s why you always hear “just breathe.”

"You will feel better in 10 sessions, look better in 20 sessions, and have a completely new body in 30 sessions."- Joseph Pilates