Stretching! It can be more helpful than you think!

​Stretching can be so beneficial in bringing our body back to neutral. So many of the issues we see with our clients here at the OM Center can be attributed to the repetitive muscle strains of our everyday lives. We can us stretching to combat the stress we put on our musculoskeletal system. 

Benefits of daily stretching include:
*Increased flexibility
*Increased joint range of motion
*Improved circulation
*Better posture
*Stress relief
*Enhanced coordination

Starting with some basic physiology, the body's form will always follow the most common function. For example, if you sit at a desk in front of a computer for eight hours of work each day, soon enough your body will settle into that common form. You may notice that your shoulders roll forward, your neck tightens up in the back and your back will be rounded in form. When you leave your desk at the end of the day you take these postures with you. Our bodies are run very efficiently and once the tension is set within our muscle tissue it tends to stay that way unless we stretch it out. If we don't, we are at a higher risk for injury. 

While Massage Therapy is vital in releasing all of the tension we heap on our bodies. Stretching is also necessary in maintaining the neutrality between your massage therapy sessions. Quite often we send our clients home with stretching routines. Stretching problem areas consistently between visits helps move the healing at a faster pace. In short, we don't have to start from square one each session and results become longer lasting. 

Stretching can also be a great stress reliever. It improves circulation, getting more oxygen to your muscle tissue. This can have a relaxing effect for the mind/body connection. We usually breath more deeply while stretching and this can help clear your mind and help your nervous system to relax, putting you in a calmer, more peaceful state of mind. This is probably one of the reasons yoga is such a popular fitness option today!

A lot of you are probably not exactly sure how to start a stretching routine. Our therapists are always available to provide information about stretching after your session. But if you would like to focus a little more on healthy stretching, The OM Center is starting a stretching class!

The class will meet Saturday mornings at 10 a.m., beginning on February 17th 2018 at our downtown location in the Joe Ann Steele Insurance Center (130 N. Main St, Adrian) 2nd floor. It's a drop-in class, just bring a yoga/fitness mat. The cost is $10. Check our Facebook page for more information. Hope to see you there!