• Improves posture, flexibility and spine alignment
• Reduces muscle tension
• Increases blood circulation and energy level
• Six easy to adjust angles
• Non-slip surface

Product Description
Stretching is one of the key components of a balanced fitness program. It helps lengthen muscle groups, decreases the risk of injury and prevents soreness. Simply stand upright on the incline foot plate for 90 seconds a day and the Stretch Pro will help you gain the flexibility you need.

Sunpentown Stretch Pro

• Make your stretching or exercise routine a more cushioned and comfortable experience with the Natural Cotton Mat.
• The unbleached, undyed natural cotton shell is stuffed with untreated natural cotton batting that’s handtufted for an extra supportive surface.
• Includes ties for rolling and storage.
• 63″L x 36″W x 3″H (thickness); 10 lbs.
• Made in the USA!

Product Description
Make your stretching or exercise routine a more cushioned and comfortable experience with the Natural Cotton Mat. The unbleached, undyed natural cotton shell is stuffed with untreated natural cotton batting that’s handtufted for an extra supportive surface. Includes ties for rolling and storage. 63″L x 36″W x 3″H (thickness); 10 lbs. Spot clean. Made in the USA.

Protect your mat with the machine washable Natural Cotton Cover (sold separately).

Gaiam Natural Cotton Mat

Stretching exercise is indeed one of the best forms of exercises for modern people, allowing us to keep healthy with minimal effort. With the help of this site, hopefully you would be able to lead a busy but happier and healthier lifestyle.

Stretching is a key component of a balanced exercise program. Performing stretching exercises daily can increase flexibility and maintain healthy joints. Regular flexibility exercises can make activities of daily living easier and improve physical activity.

Performance.

Warm up first

Stretching muscles when they’re cold increases your risk of injury, including pulled muscles. Warm up by walking while gently pumping your arms, or do a favorite exercise at low intensity for five minutes. Better yet, stretch after you exercise — when your muscles are warm and more receptive to stretching.

One caveat: If you plan to stretch only after your workout, increase the intensity of the activity more slowly than you would if you had stretched your muscles before exercising.

Piriformis Stretch

Begin on the hands and knees and bring the left knee in, resting it on the floor between your hands (you should be on the outside of the knee). Straighten the right leg out behind you and, if you can, bend forward and rest the forearms on the floor.

Abdominal and lower back muscles

Lie face down on the ground in a prone position. Lift your body off the ground so that you are supported only by your forearms and toes. The elbows should be on the ground and should be almost directly below your shoulders. Your forearms and hands should be resting on the ground, pointed straight ahead, toes and feet should be shoulder width apart and your head in line with your spine.

Quad Stretch

Lie down on your side using elbow for balance. Using other arm, slowly pull your foot towards your glutes, keeping both knees together and bent knee pointing down. Switch legs.

Stair Stretch

Stand on a step on the balls for your feet, hold the rail or wall for balance. Slow lower the heel of the injured foot to stretch the arch of your foot.

Ankle Bounce

Leaning forward with your hands on the wall and your weight on your toes, raise and lower both heels rapidly (bounce).Each time, lift your heels one to two inches from the ground while maintaining ground contact with the ball of your feet. 12 to 16 repetitions.

Chest Stretch

Clasp your hands together behind your back, with your palms together. Keeping your elbows straight, lift your hands out and up behind you as far as possible. You should be able to feel the stretch in your shoulders and chest. For a deeper stretch, bend over at the waist, with your arms above you and elbows still straight. Let gravity pull your arms as far as possible. Slowly stand up and release your hands.

• Dynamic stretching
• Ideal for stretching ankle, Achilles tendon, and calf muscles

Product Description
The Fit Stretch is ideal for stretching and rehabilitation of the ankle, Achilles tendon, and calf muscles. Unique rocking feature allows dynamic stretching of the lower leg. Color: Blue.

J Fit Fit Stretch Stretching Aid

Stretching exercise after the workout has yet another important role to play. After workout, the blood circulation fastens and body temperature increases. Some exercises cause muscle tightening. A 30-60 second stretch cools the body down and relaxes the muscles. However, it does not mean that these are the only times one can do stretching exercise. Anybody, anywhere and anytime can do stretching exercise unless otherwise prohibited for any health concern.

Modern fitness programmes include proven stretching exercises literally for every part of the body. Appropriate body posture is very important factor to be considered while performing stretching exercises. Unless the posture is appropriate and comfortable, it may cause serious injury to the muscles. Concentrating on any pleasant object like a flower or a picture helps attain the right posture. Unlike some yoga positions, simple stretching does not require holding breath. In fact, it is the combination of relaxing the body and at the same time maintaining normal breathing.

Stretching also helps improving balance, co-ordination and concentration. Therefore, athletes and sportsmen prefer to do regular stretching exercise. It helps them keep their stamina high, heal the muscle pain occurred during sports and improve their balance while making fast movements.

However, it has no longer remained limited for the body builders and sportsmen. Stretching has been found to be a natural anti-aging therapy. A good news for those who wish to remain young and fit for a long time. Those who do regular stretching exercise, look younger than their counterparts who always give excuses of time and place for not exercise. Moreover, you do not have to have even an hour or a big place for stretching. It is just a matter of few minutes that is going to help you last your stamina all day long.

In our modern lifestyle, we sacrifice our time on fulfilling the professional and social commitments but we do not have time to relax. It is becoming practically impossible day-by-day spending hours together working out in health club or burning calories on sports grounds. But the stressed-out body and mind only know that they need relaxation and stretching exercise is definitely a good option. Ultimately it is not about being just physically fit and young looking but it is all about feeling a sense of peace and well-being.

The benefits of stretching exercises can summarized as below:

- Reduces body stiffness
- Relaxation to the muscles which improves movements flexibility
- Eases the blood circulation in the body
- Adjust the level of body temperature to begin heavy workout
- Improves body balance and co-ordination
- Improves concentration

The sooner, the better… Starting stretching exercise right now is a wise decision that stretching the plan to next week, next month or next year.