5 Helpful Stretching Pinterest Boards
We're all keen as mustard to get back into the gym for some resolution-busting in January but if you're feeling a bit rusty after your first few sessions, health blogger Anna Fox has rounded up a Pinterest treat that will get your body moving smoothly again...There's no doubt getting into great shape for the New Year requires a diet full of fresh, healthy, whole foods, plus a little time spent working up a sweat (hmm perhaps a lot of time if you were a little too hands-on with the Christmas pudding).Sadly, the simple act of stretching is often left out by those outlining the best fitness methods - an oversight that could risk both your safety and your progress. Why? Because stretching not only makes you more flexible and less injury prone, it can also help reduce your appetite, connect deeply with your body and nip any emotional eating in the bud. It can also lengthen muscles for a longer, leaner look (or for the boys, it can give your muscles more length and therefore make them look bigger when combined with some serious lifting!) and is a great way to burn calories while also getting a little down time.Whether we're talking about yoga, flexibility training or simple muscle-saving stretches before a jog, the power of stretching simply cannot be overstated on any level! And the good news is, you don't have to be a dedicated yogi to add stretching to your regular routine and reap its amazing benefits. Learn more about different stretching techniques and find the right stretch-strategy for you by visiting a few of our fave Pinterest sites:
1. Flexibility and Stretching
The pins here may be limited in number, but they are of a quality that is sometimes difficult to find on Pinterest! Using easy-to-understand graphics that aim to instruct visitors in best practices while stretching, the Flexibility and Stretching Pinterest board is a great place to start when learning more about what techniques will work best for you.These pins will prove useful to stretching newbies and pros alike, opening up a world of unique contortions that promise to be as helpful to your weight, shape and fitness level as the many other physical activities you'll be indulging in.
2. Stretch and Bend
From pre-workout stretches for muscle safety to extreme yoga poses that most of us can only dream of accomplishing, the Stretch and Bend board in Pinterest covers all things, well, stretchy and bendy!The focus here is on technique (particularly as you scroll further down the page), each image providing you with simple instructions that can get you on a mat and stretching like a pro in no time. Learn about the best moves for preparing muscles for different exercises while getting a taste of what yoga is all about, this board turns stretching into a regular and highly useful part of your exercise regimen.
3. Stretching Exercises
While stretching does serve as a necessary intro/outro to every top-notch workout session, did you realise it is also considered a valuable exercise in and of itself? The Stretching Exercises board on Pinterest is your best reference for quick and easy techniques that aim to get you stretched out from head to toe, increasing your fat-burning potential while working towards making you as flexible as a cat.More than 30 pins promise to be your guide as you take your newest fat-burning activity to a higher level; everything you need to be a successful, healthy stretcher can be found right here!
4. POP Pilates Stretching
While there are only three pins to find at this Pinterest page, each of the three provides a unique video that aims to guide you through the steps necessary to be a successful pilates stretcher!Like yoga, pilates demands very specific motions, timing and breathing in order to make the most of every stretch, providing an array of benefits that range from increased blood flow to exactly the kind of toned muscles your healthy eating and exercise routine are trying to accomplish!
5. Stretching, Warm-up and Cool-down Exercises
While stretching is a form of exercise in and of itself, it also represents a crucial part of any exercise regimen, allowing you to prepare your body for the work to come and also to relax it and aid recovery following a hard session at the gym.The Stretching, Warm-up and Cool-down Exercises page on Pinterest plays host to more than 200 pins that aim to educate you on the moves necessary to get your juices flowing before your regular routine, as well as cool those hard-working muscles down afterwards, helping you to avoid injury and excessive muscle soreness. Enjoy getting into your New Year's fitness Bondi BUFs! This post was written by Anna Fox, creator of chickandfit.com and manifestconnection.com. Anna is passionate about health, fitness and self-improvement and loves sharing her insights about achieving lasting weight loss and wellness.