Stretching exercises and yoga are somewhat synonymous in that yoga routines include stretching movements, but you can do stretching activities without them being yoga exercises. Many types of nonyoga exercise programs include the stretching and flexing of muscles. Areas to stretch include your shoulders, neck, back, hips, thighs and calves. Stretching and yoga yield a variety of benefits, including relief from chronic and acute conditions.
Flexibility
Improved flexibility, which refers to how much a muscle lengthens, is a key benefit from stretching and yoga movements. Everyday tasks like tying your shoes, reaching for items in cabinets and lifting objects can become easier. Similarly, muscle coordination can improve with regular stretching and yoga practice. All of these benefits become even more important as you get older, because muscles naturally become tighter and shorter over the years. Yoga and stretching are ways to keep those muscles loose and limber.
Range of Motion
Stretching and yoga can keep the body's joints, tendons and ligaments lubricated and can improve range of motion, which allows you more mobility and agility. You have better balance and are less likely to fall and injure yourself. These benefits are important at any age, but especially critical as you get older.
Better Circulation
With stretching and yoga activities come better circulation of blood throughout the body, including to the joints and muscles. This yields quicker healing of any muscle injuries and more nutrients coming to the muscles at all times.
Pain Relief
Stretching and yoga can provide relief from back pain and arthritis. For lower-back pain, stretching the quadriceps and hamstrings as well as the hip and pelvis muscles can contribute to relief. Stretching and yoga can also ease headache pain by improving circulation and oxygen flow to the head. The relaxation aspect of stretching and yoga may also contribute to pain reduction.
Relaxation
Stretching and yoga can be antidotes to stress, as they ease and loosen tight muscles and offer a sense of well-being and tranquility. In addition to the physical ways these exercises can provide benefits, the mental calm also contributes to relaxation. Some people have used yoga to cope with issues like anxiety and depression.
Improved Posture
Better posture is another benefit to yoga and stretching activities. Tight muscles can contribute to bad posture, but stretching those muscles can improve alignment in your back and help posture. The particular areas of stretching that yield these benefits are the chest, shoulders and lower back.
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