Stretch for Fitness Success

When you think of developing a strong, muscular physique what do you think of doing, go to the fitness center ! To improve and develop strength most individuals focus on lifting weights maybe in a fitness center– exercises in the fitness center such as bench press, push ups and flies – that focus on powerful pushing and pulling movements and many other they offer in the fitness center. Cardiovascular activity in the fitness center usually takes the passenger seat, when it comes to developing strength - unless you’re involved in a sport that requires a lot of endurance training in the fitness center, or if you want to loose excess body fat on top of improving your strength.

Stretching –

unfortunately isn’t even put in the strength development category, because most of us figure that since it’s a low intensity movement it’s purely for cooling down after our workouts. However stretching in the fitness center isn't merely a great way to cool down – trust me it can actually help make you stronger. That’s why I feature a great stretching diagram on my website, FitnessGear101.com. The benefits of stretching have numerous effects on your weightlifting progress. Just remember when you stretch you should feel slight tension in your muscles, but no pain! Stretching is your key to the following fitness center pluses:

Increased Strength -

Stretching actually helps to increase your muscular strength because it expands your range of motion, and range of motion literally applies to weightlifting. For example in the fitness center when you lift in a wider range of motion compared to a smaller range, you’re enlisting the help of more fibers, making your muscles stronger.

Reduced Stress –

We all know that stretching helps reduce the stress and tension in our exercised muscles, but did you know that a quick 20-mintue session of stretching, must not be done in the fitness center, can be done everywhere,can also release most of the tension that built up throughout an entire workday?

Improved Posture –
 
Flexible muscles are your key to good posture in the fitness center, because stretching promotes balanced muscle tone in all the major joints in the body. This affects your strength training because good posture reduces stress and soreness in the muscles and joints, letting you get back to the fitness center faster. Improved Speed & Reaction Time – if you’re an athlete you’re aware of how important agility is to top performance. Flexible muscles make you quicker on your feet. This allows for you to run faster in sports like soccer; react quicker by making saves in hockey and by maneuvering around opponents in football.  Decreased Muscle Soreness - This means less time off from the gym and your game, and more time to devote to developing those muscles.

Ease of Movement –

If you’re not an athlete, never fear, stretching does more than improve sports performance. It makes simple daily tasks easier as well, by lessening the general stiffness in joints so you can bend down, reach up and lift things easily. Stretching will also affect the future of your joints by making you less likely to develop joint pain later in life. Reduces Chances of Injury – More flexible muscles translate to less chance of injuring tight muscles during exercise. Take for example your hamstrings, the muscles that run down the back of your upper legs. I like to compare the hamstrings to an elastic band – the flexible hamstring has a lot of stretch; whereas the inflexible hamstring is that dried out elastic that breaks when it’s stretch too far.

Tuning up for workouts - Body talk: black health and fitness, sports apparel, shoes, and health club etiquette

THERE'S enough to worry about in the fitness center, from setting up and following your workout routine to using fitness center equipment to achieve your workout goals. But the one aspect of exercising in the fitness center that should never give you cause for alarm is your personal workout gear. From sneakers to leotards to tank tops, there is an etiquette of clothing dos and don'ts not only .for your gear but for accessories like makeup, deodorant and towels. Using and maintaining your personal equipment is not only important in terms of good hygiene but is also a courtesy to your fellow gym-goers. And if you follow these simple rules, you will not only feel good, you will also look good

1. Buy the best fitness equipment you can afford and maintain it and clean it properly as instructed. And by equipment, we mean everything--shoes, clothing, knee-wraps, headbands, tennis racquets, even sports bottles. That doesn't mean that you should blow your whole budget on the new Jordans, but you should definitely go for quality. You'll spend more now, but you'll save in the long run.

2. Don't go overboard on makeup. Wearing lip-gloss or lipstick is fine, but putting on a face that would make Tammy Faye blush could cause problems, some fitness experts say. If you exercise in the fitness center with a lot of makeup on, it could a) run down your face, ruining the very aesthetic you want to advertise, and b) clog your pores, which could result in acne. You can, however, fill in your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush and use lip moisturizer.

3. Your workout gear in the fitness center should include at least two quality, comfortable outfits. While cotton allows your body to breathe and is the least expensive of all materials, keep the white cotton tees at home. They tend to stain in the armpits rather quickly, depending on your body chemistry. Avoid multicolored outfits and stick to three basic colors--anything more resembles Mardi Gras. When choosing your bottoms, wear shorts that allow a greater range of motion. For men, the shorts should fall a little above the knees. Women have more leeway on the length. Choose bottoms that fit nicely, nothing too tight or too droopy. Don't skimp on the quality--cheap bottoms will develop holes and rips in embarrassing places. If your budget allows, splurge on a dazzling warm-up suit.

4. Keep it clean. It's important to have fresh clothing for your daily fitness center workout. Athletic apparel should be washed frequently to avoid fungus buildup. Follow the instructions located on the tag of workout attire.

5. Travel with a towel. The last thing another Brother or Sister wants to find is hair grease on the mat or a puddle of sweat on the workout bench. In addition to keeping sweat off your brow, towels can be used to wipe down the equipment and keep your sweat off others. Most gyms provide towels for just such a reason.