Stretching and warming up are critical when it comes to any type of working out. Whether you are cross training, taking a Pilates class, cycling through a Spin class, or going out for a run ~ warming up and cooling down are as important as doing the actual exercise....if not better.
Key note to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember ---> static (holding the stretch in one position for a period of time) stretching is for the cool down - the after part of your workout. If you just stretch into one move and hold it and then do another stretch and hold it, you are pretty much putting your muscles back in square one. This is what you want at the end. Put your body back to the beginning. So instead, you want to slowly move and breathe into each stretch. Constantly moving into a stretch. Examples would be easy jogging in place for a minute OR reaching your hands above your head and grasping each hand and pulling over to the side and stretching out the obliques (sides of your belly)
After you done, you can hold your stretch as long as you want!
HAPPY STRETCHING!
AND REACH FOR THE SUN!
