7 Mental and Physical Benefits of Stretching

Stretching has profound benefits, not only for physical health but also for mental and emotional well-being. Here are some of the top ways that stretching can benefit you today!

Physical Benefits

1. Stretching has prominent effects on physiological function. Especially as a person ages, restriction of mobility, muscle ache, and muscle tension are common factors of growing age. Consistent stretching can help release this tension, promoting flexibility and efficient movement throughout everyday activities. 
2. Stretching protects from injury in regards to physical exercise. A few minutes of stretching before and after a workout can have beneficial effects, allowing muscle relaxation and preventing intense muscle soreness leading to faster recovery from exercise.  
3. Consistent stretching also affects circulation. Stretching assists efficient access for oxygen to flow through the body by reducing inflammation and soreness. Increased circulation thus allows increased blood flow to the body. For example, this physiological benefit could help with breathing and respiration. 
4. Stretching also helps with posture.  Minor skeletal misalignment issues are retrainable, and it’s possible to structure incorrect posture patterns through healthy repetitive stretching patterns.

Mental and Emotional Benefits

5. Stretching is also beneficial for stress relief. The body’s response to stress is not only physical but also mental. Stressors often cause muscles to tighten due to physical and emotional strain. Many people tend to exhibit physical signs of stress with either their neck, head, or back feeling tight or having discomfort; stretching will likely decrease pain in those areas as it relieves muscle tension. Stretching could release this muscle tightness, therefore, physically releasing the pressure. By releasing muscle tension, stretching cultivates feelings and positive emotions of stress relief due to decreasing muscle pain and ache. 

6. Stretching connects the body and mind. Several different exercises such as yoga or mindfulness techniques incorporate stretching due to the body-mind connection. Physical activity, such as yoga and stretching, can lead to a more focused mind because of neurotransmitters’ release—specifically, dopamine releases during stretching, and dopamine links to feelings of happiness and well-being. Thus there are mental benefits to stretching.

7. Stretch regarding spiritual and emotional well-being allows people to discover their bodies in meaningful ways. The slowing down nature of stretching, combined with slow breathing, enables individuals to practically connect mentally and physically with their bodies, learning about their minds and body, therefore connecting with self in an intimate, purposeful way.  

Here are a few ways to stretch!