Flexibility Training

Man stretches out his legs before going for a run.

Flexibility training is a form of training that targets a person’s joints and the ability to move the joints effectively and efficiently in a complete range of motion. Flexibility training includes stretching exercises to lengthen the muscles and may include activities like yoga or Tai Chi. Flexibility training is one of the most overlooked aspects of a person’s fitness regime. Flexibility training improves a person’s ability in other categories of training like Strength Training and Endurance Training.

Stretching out his hips and legs before participating in a workout.

Flexibility training also is said to reduce the risk of injury when preparing for a big training session. It is rather crucial that you properly prepare your joints and muscles before lifting heavy or going for a run. It will prepare your muscles for the work to come and reduce the risk of injury while performing the training. It also minimizes and delays the onset of muscle fatigue and soreness by getting rid of the lactic acid.

“The body is comprised of joints that tend to favor stability—such as the knees and lumbar spine—and joints that favor mobility—including the ankles, hips, thoracic spine and shoulders.”

~ Professor Jessica Matthews, Point Loma Nazarene University

Let me tell you how beginning your workout with a stretch or flexibility workout can be an effective help in performance enhancement for your workout to come. Flexibility training is joint specific so incorporate a variety of different movements and stretching techniques into your training to target the major muscle tendon units of the neck, chest, shoulder girdle, trunk, lower back, hips, legs and ankles. When you target the certain muscles you will using for your workout it will help your performance because you stretched out and warmed us that muscle before using it for your engaging workout.

So remember to stretch and take some time to engage in some flexibility training like Yoga, Pilates, or just basic Stretching. These thins will help you grow stronger in a lot of different areas and will most importantly keep your muscles and joints from injury.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”

1 Corinthians 6:19