Be Your Own Personal Trainer

  When and why do we do them? In the previous article, we were introduced to the basics of stretches which included ' How We stretch? ' In this article, we'll further our discussion to explore the two main types of stretches, static and dynamic stretches, and how we should incorporate them into our workouts. Static stretches occur when we stretch the actual muscle or myofascial tissue. The emphasis is usually on a single muscle or a muscle group. Static stretches have a relaxing and elongating effect on a muscle, reduce injuries and muscle stiffness, and increase the range of motion. It is a slow and controlled movement with an emphasis on bodily alignment. Dynamic stretches occur when we move our limbs, making our joints work and increasing the joints' range of motion. It's a movement-based stretch where the position isn't held. Dynamic stretch stimulates and prepares muscles for exercises or other activities; it warms them up and activates the joints.  Since

  And Why? You probably already know how important stretching is for the body, and you probably realize how much better you feel when you complete a stretch routine.   So let's discuss what occurs in the body while stretching  and why we should stretch regularly.  Stretching regularly means every day or two.  Have you ever cooked chicken and noticed that every piece is wrapped in tissue that resembles a white sack?  Well, that tissue is called myofascial tissue. It surrounds muscles so that the muscle fibers won't come apart.  Human muscles are made the same way. We feel tight when this tissue is tight and tight tissue restrains muscle fiber movement and blood circulation.  Myofascial tissues form links throughout your body, and this means that if it is tight in one place of the link you might feel pain at the other end of the same link.  Various links are demonstrated in blue in the images below.   For instance, I've seen at the gym that when a person rolls their shoulders

  How should you prepare for your workouts? If you are a beginner-level fitness enthusiast, you should consider a few things before you start your fitness journey. Remember, you can't just get away from your work desk and begin exercising like a gym trainer. You need to prepare your body first. By preparing, I mean the following: 1. Stretch all the tight muscles. 2. Eliminate all your posture imbalances. 3. Re-align your posture. 4. Strengthen your core. 5. Master your basic movements.    Did I scare you?  I apologize if I did. It might not sound easy, but it just means a smooth and safe transition into fitness. You will already feel and see the first positive changes during this preparation stage.    Why do we do this?   We do this to avoid injuries and have a gradual progression. It's important not to skip stages and to increase exercise intensity at the right pace. Injuries will be a part of your life if you don't follow this rule.  While working out, you are not suppose