Ooh Big Stretch

A viral trend popping up on some social media platforms is a short video clip of an unimpressed pupper or baby, fake FaceTiming their one parent to inform them that their other parent has neglected to say, “ooh big stretch,” after they performed a big stretch. I have a huge soft spot for pups and babies so these videos feel very tailored to me. Just kidding, I am certainly not the only person out there that these videos get to and I recognize that, however, I can say that not only do these vids always make me smile, they almost always make me stretch. What about you? What inspires or reminds you to loosen up your muscles?

Stretching is the “tying your shoes” to “going outside”, when all you want to do is pop into some slip ons and get that outside party started. It can feel unnecessary and slightly boring, as many preventative acts can, that is until your body reminds you of the why. If you are a physically active person who is lucky enough to have found a favorite way to move your body, getting to the main event can be exciting. Of course there are those days where getting to the main event is so you can make it through the main event as quickly as possible. Either way, many of us want to dive right into the movement without greasing the wheels and this can cause short term, as well as long term problems to your healthy lifestyle.

Immediate effects of not stretching can look like minor aches and pains in the body or even slightly limited mobility. If you’ve ever slept wrong or in a tight space like an airplane or any public transit really, I’m sure your muscles can remember the genuine soreness that plagued them. Tinges, aches and muscle spasms may accompany a poor rest of this nature, and when I have one of these sleeps, I can feel my body asking to stretch. This “ask” can quickly become a “beg” if my brain senses me trying to ignore the question. Even sitting too long at a desk or in one position can cause discomfort, and I will often shift my spine around in an effort to lubricate it.

Long term effects of not stretching can be a little more uncomfortable than the short term. These tend to be cyclical, and not in a positive way. For instance, if you sit a lot, your muscles spend a lot of time in a cooled down, tensed position. If you don’t stretch regularly, which promotes blood flow and increased flexibility, when you stand, you may find that your muscles aren’t warm enough to properly extend. Ever gone to stand up after a lengthy sit? It can take a moment to fully straighten out your legs and it can be slightly twingy doing so. If you compact this repetitive inaction into years and decades, it can make it much more difficult to move over time. In many instances, the pain of movement causes people to remain more sedentary to avoid the pain, when in reality, movement is the only way through the pain.

I know that sometimes this can be a tough ask for people, especially if it’s been a little while since they’ve been out of the stretch pre-game, however it is extremely beneficial and necessary to your overall wellness. It is always a good idea to consult your doctor regarding what physical activity is best for your lifestyle, and of course if dealing with a particularly tight muscle or specific healing injury. Also, listen to your body. I was lucky as a child to have a mother who valued the practice of yoga. This taught me many lessons, but to simplify it, two very valuable ones. One, listening to the signals your body is giving you will never steer you wrong, and two, regular stretching is good for your mind and your body. Let this be your external sign to try and touch your toes today, gently of course, or elongate your spine with a wonderfully satisfying half- moon pose. Whatever part of your body is the squeakiest wheel, listen to and grease that sucker, you’ll thank me someday!

by Catie Zimmerman