A common phrase in sports and fitness is “no pain, no gain.”
But when it comes to stretching (and often sports and fitness in general), that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
A prevalent misconception about stretching is that you must go “to the edge” if you’re going to get results.
While pushing yourself through some physical intensities may be beneficial, like breathing through the burn for those last 5 seconds holding a plank pose, stretching shouldn’t hurt at all. Most would have better results, with fewer chances of injury, if they only went to say a 30-40% stretch, where you can feel a gentle stretch but it definitely doesn’t hurt.
Check out this video to see a few low-impact stretches perfect for everyday use.
For more insightful and practical stretches and exercises, check out the NeuroMuscular Balancing course
Kalindi Dinoffer is trained in multiple aspects of mindfulness in life and in sports, sharing on her blog MindfulKalindi.com. She is also certified to teach yoga, fitness, reiki, and MFR. Kalindi also serves as VP marketing at OnCourtOffCourt.com, a leading supplier of tennis, pickleball, fitness and yoga training aids and equipment and has been published in Tennis industry Magazine and Pickleball Magazine, and has conducted workshops at conferences around the world. In her spare time, Kalindi plays tennis, pickleball and table tennis and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and biking and cross country skiing in the winter.
