Stretching
Why Stretch?
Stretching regularly increases your flexibility, improves the range of motion of your joints, and helps prevent injury. Stretching can also help improve your posture.
How to Stretch
- Warm up. Stretching muscles when they're "cold" increases the risk of muscle pulls. Prepare your muscles by doing a few minutes of light aerobic exercise or stretch after your regular aerobic or strength training sessions.
- Slowly stretch a specific muscle. As you reach the end of your range of motion you will feel a gentle "pulling" sensation. If you feel pain, you've gone too far.
- Hold the position gently for 15 - 20 seconds. Do not bounce.
- Relax and breathe deeply while you stretch. Concentrate on the muscles you're working. Stretching should be gradual and relaxed.
- Start with the neck and progress down to the feet. This enables you to take advantage of gains in flexibility from the previously stretched muscle groups.
"During the Summer Olympics Challenge, I made it my goal to get my family to try some new fruits and vegetables... During the "purple" week, I made the eggplant parmesan--I've never really liked eggplant but I felt daring! It was terrific! My husband and I both loved it, and our girls ate it as well as any other dinner! More importantly, it caught their interest. After that when we went grocery shopping, they would look for new produce to try. We had a great time trying new foods, and found some things we all enjoyed! Now my daughters are more willing to try new foods, and are more aware of their eating habits."-Wellness Participant Nov 08
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