When you think about it, most activities that we consider exercise involve contracting our muscles to get a workout. If you are lifting weights, you are focused on your muscles contracting to lift the weight. When you are walking on the treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike, you are being propelled forward by the muscles contracting in your legs when you take a step or push the pedal. We must work to keep all parts of our body in balance. In order to keep our muscles balanced, not only do we have to work all different muscle groups, but we also have to stretch them to counter all of the tightening that they do all day.

One of the most important benefits of stretching is that it improves flexibility. Having loose muscles can improve your performance of daily tasks like picking up heavy objects, tying your shoes, or making a dash to catch the bus. You minimize your risk of pulling or straining a muscle if you keep them loose and limber. As you stretch more consistently with greater frequency, you gradually improve the range of motion around your joints. A good range of motion helps to keep you balanced and mobile; this is especially important as we age because good flexibility can help prevent falls. Also, the key to muscle recovery after a tough workout is getting oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Stretching improves the circulation of your blood and can enhance muscle recovery.

Finally, stretching can help relieve stress. You have probably felt that your muscles, particularly those in your neck and back, becomes extremely tense and tight during times of high anxiety and stress. While a professional massage would be nice every time you get stressed, this may not be in the cards for everyone. In that case, simply taking time to stretch and breathe can do wonders for decreasing stress. This is one of the main reasons that people love yoga, because it teaches you how to properly synchronize stretching with deep breathing techniques.