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

• Exercising The Face Muscles To Improve The Looks
• Fitness of the Brain by Breathing Exercises
• Post Exercise Cool Down Decides Your Fitness Levels
• Push Ups For Improving The Biceps, Triceps and Chest Muscles
• Abdominal Exercises with Medicine Ball

What's More today?

Weight Training Techniques To Improve Athletic Performance

Interesting enough, it is a commonly misunderstood fact that exercising too much with the weights, or... 

Processed Food Could Be Harmful For Your Bodies Health

Processed foods include food substances like unhealthy refined, chemicalized, deficient foods. As rightly... 

Health and Body Maintenance During Winters

With the advent of winter season an inactive schedule due to laziness ensues. This lethargy or laziness... 

Fitness of the Brain by Breathing Exercises

Apart from physical fitness, another important aspect of health is the mental fitness. Akin to our body... 

Fasting May Improve Muscular Fitness and Health

In various traditions, especially in Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and other religions of the world a... 

Alcohol Withdrawal And Fitness

Alcoholism and consumption of alcohol has been one of the most traditional forms of intoxication and... 

Post Exercise Cool Down Decides Your Fitness Levels

As important as warming up, cooling down past exercising is very important for an ensured fitness level.... 

Push Ups For Improving The Biceps, Triceps and Chest Muscles

One of the oldest forms of physical exercises, push ups are still a lovable form of exercise for most... 

Waist To Hip Ratio A Measurement Of Obesity

Obesity! a haunting word, that has become an epidemic in the modern society, is not only a health problem,... 

Weight Loss Is Not Entirely Dependent On Fat Consumption

Interestingly enough, it is now a proven fact that a completely fat free diet is not the actual solution... 

Accupuncture and Accupressure are Useful for Fitness

Ever wondered why people in the primitive ages lead a healthy pain free life even at an old age. Well!... 

Improper Diet May Lead to Osteoporosis

Fitness of the bones is not only vital for leading a painless life, but also for having a proper physical... 

Vitamin B6 is Vital For Muscular Fitness

Ever wondered that certain vitamins if missing in minute quantities could be extremely fatal to all the... 

Artichoke Has Excellent Nutracetuical Properties

In the modern world, many people take dietary supplements not because they are suffering from any disease... 

Eating Corn to Reduce Body Weight and Improve Fitness

In the modern world, with numerous sickly obese people, the surge for a perfect diet is going on at a...