Stretching Exercises to Improve Fitness

We have already discussed the importance of stretching exercises in order to improve upon the functionality of muscles as well as to improve the muscular strength. In my opinion, a few stretching exercises should always be performed directly after finishing on the weight training, whilst the muscles are still warm and bursting with energy. This will help stretch the muscles for flexibility, get rid of any lactic acid remaining in the muscle after exertion and also act as a relaxing aid.

Stretching the inner thigh

The inner thigh muscles play an important role in the overall strength especially in case of athletes and runners etc. To stretch the inner thigh sit on the floor and draw your legs together in such as way that the soles of the feet touch. Following this hold on to your feet and lower your knees to the either side as far as you can. Apply gentle pressure to the legs by making use of your arms or elbows.

Try to stretch as far apart as you are comfortable with. Try to hold on to the maximum stretch position for 3-6 seconds depending upon your comfort levels. Further make 5-6 reps and you would certainly enjoy the relaxation that this exercise brings to your thigh muscles.

Stretching the hamstrings

Another classical exercise for stretching is the hamstring stretch. Hamstrings are an important set of muscles which need a lot of care and attention, especially in case of athletes and field sportsmen. To perform the hamstring stretch, sit on the floor with legs astride and straight. Gently lean down towards your right side, grabbing your right ankle or foot to pull down. Following this move to the centre and stretch forward, trying to place your head or chest on the floor in front of you.

Then move across to your left side and lean forward, taking hold of your left ankle or foot and pull down gently. Keep alternating this stretching exercise from left to right to centre. Always remember to stretch a little more in each rep than the previous one. Five to 6 reps in all the directions would be sufficient.

Recent Articles

• Isometric Exercises
• Isometric Exercises for the Lower Body
• Height Increasing Exercises
• Exercises for double chin
• What you can do with a pair of dumbbells

What's More today?

A Beginner’s Muscle Building Routine

Are you tired of looking at skin and bones on your body? Do you want to replace your skinny physique... 

Healthy Ways of Losing Fat

Many people dream of certain diets which would help them lose fat in a faster way. There cannot be anything... 

Tips for Getting Ripped Abs

Many people are worried that they have a skinny or overweight body shape. They are searching for a solution... 

How to deal with a sore muscle

Muscles can get fatigued and sore if they are over exercised. They will hurt you, because they might... 

2 Simple Tips to Lose Weight through Cardio Workouts

This article gives you two very simple tips that can help to lose weight by adapting cardio workouts... 

Tips to Build Bigger Muscles

If you are one of those people who are looking to build some huge, fierce muscles, then you need to follow... 

Body Building for Women

Now more than ever, you see women trade in the skinny look for a more toned, fit and muscular appearance.... 

Facts about Muscle Building

Do we wish to burn fat, feed the muscles, achieve real fitness in life, and also get nice abs that we... 

Muscle Building Tips for Beginners

Muscle building is a desire for every common man and a beginner wants to do workouts the first day and... 

Weight loss and food addiction

Some of you are simply addicted to foods, you love eating, trying out new recipes, you know you are overweight... 

Tips for losing that fat belly, quickly!

Are you trying to get in shape? Do you want to have a nice sleek abdomen ? Maybe you already have the... 

Low calorie diet

If you have just stopped dining out because you are worried that it will derail your weight loss program,... 

Height Increasing Exercises

Getting tall is never easy. Some people are tall naturally. Their growth hormones assist them in becoming... 

Exercises for double chin

Double chin is nothing but some flab sitting pretty at a place that does not make you more pretty! In... 

What you can do with a pair of dumbbells

For maintaining a well-toned body, you really don’t need lots of equipments and associated paraphernalia....