Why Does Stretching Feel Good?

Yoga is a path to physical and mental health – a solid, consistent practice can improve your strength, flexibility, coordination. Yoga physical postures involves stretching more than other low impact workouts like Taichi, Qigong or else. Stretch your body thoroughly, correctly helps improve flexibility and strength.

Why does stretching feel good?

Stretching your body makes you feel good because stretch helps with improve of circulation, parasympathetic activation and release of Endorphin.

Improved circulation

When you stretch a muscle, your body responds by increasing blood flow to that muscle, thus bring more oxygen and flood away metabolic waste at the same time.

Parasympathetic activation

Parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for your rest and digestion functions. Researches have proved that static stretching activates your parasympathetic nervous system and inhibits activation of your sympathetic nervous system.

Endorphin release

Endorphins are part of your body’s natural reward system and are released after activities like exercise, sex, eating, and drinking.

Through no evidence is proved that stretching process stimulates the release of Endorphin, but many yogis have expressed that doing stretch help them reduce menstruation pain. And pain relief is related with Endorphin release.

Physical Benefits of Stretching

Regularly stretch your body results in many physical benefits:

• Increased flexibility
• Improved circulation
• Stress relief
• Better sports performance
• Improved posture

How long should you stretch?

Said experts at Harvard Health, hold your stretches for 30 seconds, it is possible you may feel some tensions, if you feel pain, back off immediately.

How often should you stretch?

The more often you stretch, the better it is for your body. However, it’s recommended to stretch for a short time each day or multiple times a day.