Wild Card: The Power of Stretching

I was going to put a picture of someone stretching, because, well, that's what I wanted to talk about today. But as I stumbled across this picture on Facebook, I realized that stretching is deeper than just touching your toes. It is about the respect and self-worth that you carry for yourself. Curious what I mean? Walk with me.

Stretching Takes Practice

Remember those merry days on the playground where we all could touch our toes? Remember when you stopped being able to do that? Yeah, that little detail digs deeper than swinging on the monkey bars and the youth of childhood. When we were in elementary school, what's supposed to happen is that we are taught about all of these things to help us excel as human beings in the long run. We're forced to exercise in P.E. and run the god-forsaken mile around the field. We are forced to participate in team sports and physical fitness tests. And while I was the first person the groan at the thought of exercise, it was always popping up all the way until graduation. I am also the first person to point out that as we are going through all these forced physical tests, we are going through the awkward blossoming of growing up. As we all know, this was not always the best self-esteem booster and gave us another reason to run from physical anything. Once we're out of the grade school system, we are left to our own devices to do whatever we want with our bodies. The lack of forced attention to our bodies drifts off in the wind and one day we wake up and can't touch our toes. We still feel insecure and always want the body someone else has.

If we stop forcing ourselves to observe our bodies daily, we will never be happy with who we truely are.

Stretching is something that you can only get better at. It's a little extra effort to make sure your muscles are getting ready to do whatever you have to do for the day. It sounds like common sense, right? But most of us do not think about stretching when we finish our morning piss. Our brain is anywhere and everywhere else but the self. Some of us are still just trying to find the motivation to even get out of bed and wipe the crust out of our eyes. Regardless of where you find yourselves in the morning or right before you go to bed, try taking a few extra minutes to do a simple stretch and release the tension in your body.

At first, it is going to feel like you are a brittle piece of toast. But don't worry, I'm not gonna leave you stuck on the floor. Now I just want to remind yall that I am in no way, shape, or form a health expert or physical fitness anything. The tips from here on in are just that, tips. Please take it slow and do what is best for you.

Stretching Tips for the Non-Stretcher

• Breathe. Even if it feels uncomfortable, you need to breathe into the stretch.

• Patience. Lace yourself in it because if you try and rush it to get it out of the way, you might end up hurting yourself.

• Start simple. Pick something you know you can do and feels good. Don't try to do some crazy pretzel pose.

• Get uncomfortable. Try to push yourself to go a little bit farther than you did the day before. Even if you start stretching only once a week, make sure you are getting somewhere.

• Set goals. If the goal is to touch your toes, make sure you focus on that goal. If you get to touch your toes, find a goal to top that in order to keep the flow going.

• Have fun. This is your body for crying out loud. Enjoy what your doing. That's kind of the whole point of life anyway, isn't it?

I am always a big fan of yoga and am thoroughly convinced it can save us all from being the hunched-over old person we all know and love. If yoga is not your cup of tea, try this roll-down exercise.

Roll Down Exercise

1. Stand upright with your feet shoulder width apart. You should not feel like your going to fall over.

2. Gently bring your chin to your chest.

3. Feel the weight of gravity as you continue to bend your spine down all the way until you are just folded over, hanging there.

4. Gently go down on your hands and knees and go into child's pose.

5. Relax and breathe.

6. Roll back up in reverse.

7. Repeat when necessary so you don't look like Arnold's Grandparents in ten years' time.

This article was written in the spirit of play and meant to inspire you to get up and get ta stretchin'. Join our FreeWriters Club and see what else we got to talk about. Until next week!