Sunday, April 1, 2012

Stretching

I'm a terrible stretcher.  I just never do it.  Before my workout I feel like it just takes up valuable time when I could be actually working out, and afterward I just want to be getting onto the next thing, whether that's a nice hot shower or the 18 errands I need to run.

As a runner I have super-tight hamstrings, and I seem to be plagued with tight hips as well.  That means that while I really should be stretching, if I actually do bother to stretch, it hurts a little bit.  It's uncomfortable.  And that is precisely why I don't like it.

Of course, stretching regularly would probably make me a better runner, a healthier person, and less likely to get injured.  It could help me relieve headaches, improve my posture, and get stronger.  It would also become much less uncomfortable for me if I did it on a regular basis.

Today I got to wondering what other areas of my life could use some stretching.  What things make me uncomfortable in the short term, but could make me a better person in the long run?  What am I missing in my hurry to get through my ever-expanding To Do list and onto the next thing?

I took a yoga class On Demand today.  My downward dogs were awful, but it was entertaining to see my own dog try to wiggle his way onto my mat and put his head on my stomach while I tried to turn myself into a human pretzel.

It might not have been a sweaty workout, but I stretched myself, which I guess is a step in the right direction.

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