CHAPTER 9

Stretch For A Longer Body

Why is stretching so important to walkers? Simply put, it makes your body perform. You’ll gain a greater range of motion, your stride will be longer and you’ll think nothing of taking the stairs two at a time (which means you’ll be able to burn more kilojoules). Flexible muscles also help prevent soreness and injury. Aesthetically, a well-stretched and limber body appears leaner than a body with shortened, constantly contracted muscles. Stretching also undoes a lot of the postural damage (slumping at your desk, toting a five-kilo handbag) that you inflict on yourself even when you’re not working out.

Muscles remember the last thing you did. And if the last thing you’ve done is contract them over and over while walking, cycling or pressing dumbbells, they’ll end up tighter and shorter. What’s more, when your muscles are chronically tight, your body is thrown out of alignment, creating imbalances and poor posture. Ready to make stretching a more important part of your workout? Here is a simple, do-anywhere yoga routine, from yoga teacher Tom Larkin, to get you started.