5 Ways To Improve Your Flexibility

Within the human body there are hundreds of muscles, and sometimes they do funny things. Muscles get sore and ache when we work them through physical fitness or simply a new activity. Our muscles not only influence how we move but have a strong influence over how we feel. In order to maintain balance throughout your muscular system, it is important to work on and improve flexibility. Here are 5 ways to improve your flexibility.

Why Is Flexibility Important?

Flexibility allows you to maintain your current levels of activity, but also your independence. While working to improve your flexibility can seem challenging, being flexible has numerous health benefits. Actively working to improve your flexibility helps to realign your back, hips, and even neck, making them all less susceptible to injury or chronic pain. Having flexible muscles demands less of your major joints, like your knees, protecting them from small or even serious injuries. The more flexible you are, the more your body is able to recover from daily aches and pains, surgeries, and even muscle tears.

1. Take CBD Daily

Taking CBD daily can help you to significantly improve your flexibility. For two reasons; CBD can play an important role in increasing and improving your flexibility.

As a powerful natural anti-inflammatory, CBD helps your muscles to recover faster from any existing injuries that may be affecting your flexibility. Additionally, when working to improve your flexibility, you may experience some soreness – research shows CBD taken internally or applied topically will naturally decrease inflammation, allowing your muscles to recover and ultimately become more flexible.

Taking a daily dose of CBD has also been found to lower blood pressure. Why is this important for flexibility? CBD’s ability to lower your blood pressure means that there is more blood flow to all of your muscles. Increased blood flow not only helps your muscles to recover but also promotes flexibility by sending more oxygen to your muscles.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to lower blood pressure, taking CBD daily can help you to improve your flexibility.

2. Practice Dynamic Stretching Before Exercise (Or Any New Physical Activity)

Another way to improve your flexibility is by practicing dynamic stretching.

How is dynamic stretching different from regular, or static, stretching?

Simply, dynamic stretching involves more movement. For example, walking lunges are a form of dynamic stretching. With each lunge, your muscles have an increased stretch due to your body’s forward movement. Another example of dynamic stretching would be high kicks.

It is important to start your dynamic stretches slowly, which will increase blood flow to the muscles you are stretching. This increased blood flow will allow your body to work harder and ultimately push you into a deeper stretch. Practicing dynamic stretching before you exercise, or even before trying a new activity, is a great way to improve your flexibility.

3. Practice A Full-Range of Motion

Having a full-range of motion greatly improves flexibility. Striving to practice a full-range of motion, especially in injury prone areas, will not only increase your flexibility but prevent injury.

What is full-range of motion?

Having full-range of motion means you have the full movement potential of all of your joints. Having full-range of motion of all of your joints helps to protect you from injury and general wear-and-tear. To obtain full-range of motion, flexibility is required, as it is your muscles that ultimately allow your joints to move.

There are a number of ways you can work to improve your range of motion, and thereby improving your flexibility. Here are some examples of activities that will increase your range of motion:
-Holding stretches for 20 seconds
-Performing light, repetitive, weight lifting exercises
-Practicing dynamic stretching

As you strive to have a full-range of motion in all of your joints, your flexibility will also improve.

4. Stay Hydrated

Optimum hydration is an essential part of improving and increasing your flexibility. Our muscles perform best when they have the right fuel – this includes being properly hydrated. Studies show that when you’re hydrated, your muscles are more elastic, allowing you to work on improving your flexibility to the fullest potential.

According to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the average male should drink about 15 cups of water a day, and the average female should drink about 11 cups of water per day. By adhering to these suggestions, you can be sure you’re staying hydrated and doing everything you can to improve your overall health and flexibility.

5. Incorporate Massage

When beginning your journey towards flexibility, incorporating massage is an amazing way to care for your muscles. Massage is also a practical way to speed up recovery time as your push your flexibility to new limits. While massages can be costly (depending on where you go), there are many affordable alternatives. Many gyms have massage chairs or stations that are free for members. Additionally, using a foam roller is also a fantastic alternative.

If you can, getting a massage from a professional, or from that special person in your life, can help you to improve your flexibility and ease muscle soreness. If you want to increase the benefits of massage, use lotions or salves containing CBD.

How Will You Improve Your Flexibility?

Through the practice and implementation of these 5 techniques, you will improve your flexibility. This well-rounded approach to flexibility will help you to protect your body in the long-run while giving you peace of mind.
What is your favorite way to improve your flexibility?