Texoma Living Well Magazine May/June 2018 | Page 30
The Importance of Stretching
By Julie Alvira, MD, MBA
W
hat happens when a
trainer has a client that
is 35 years of age with
the flexibility of a person
who is 70 years old?
One of the top fitness trends this year
is stretching. All of us have known
about stretching since we were kids in
PE class, but it wasn’t until recently that
stretching has become trendy.
Stretching has been associated with
yoga, but nowadays establishments
solely focusing on stretching are pop-
ping up everywhere. Luckily, we can
take advantage of summer season
and stretch outside in the company of
Mother Nature. Smell the flowers or the
salty scent of the ocean, feel the breeze
caressing your cheeks––inhale, exhale,
and you are ON! Think of stretching as
part of the workout for your brain rou-
tine where mind and body connect to
increase vitality and longevity.
How stretching can help you?
Besides relieving tension and