Want to sleep better, stand taller, hit a ball 10 times farther?
Go get stretched.
Many us know stretching is the foundation for any workout. It loosens up muscles and helps keep them flexible so they are less likely to pull or tear. Flexible muscles lead to better range of motion. Better range of motion leads to better performance. You see where I’m going.
But really, how much stretching do any of us actually do, and are we even doing it right? I routinely stretch before I workout and, until recently, I thought I was getting the job done. Yet, it appears I have been looking at stretching in the wrong way.
According to the folks at Coeur d’Alene’s StretchLab, I should be stretching regularly — not just before working out — but as a way to support those long days sitting in front of a computer.
Stretching after not moving a muscle? It didn’t make sense until StretchLab’s lead flexologist Gina Iovenitti explained how sitting actually shortens the leg muscles.
“If you’re tight, you can’t move that well,” says Iovenitti, who has a master’s degree in exercise science. “The biggest benefit of stretching is the increase range of motion and flexibility. You can’t be mobile if there’s no flexibility.”
Stretching, she adds, is just as important for desk jockeys as it is for athletes. And we’re not talking about toe touching and core twisting.
To get the deepest stretch, the flexologists at StretchLab utilize what is called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, or PNF stretching. Basically, it’s contract and release stretching that relies on reflexes to produce deeper stretches that increase flexibility. It’s pretty remarkable how far your body can stretch using this assisted-stretching technique.
“Most research shows it may be the most beneficial stretch as opposed to passive stretching,” Iovenitti says. “You also avoid pulling yourself into a stretch that could cause injury.”
Bottom line: Stretching is good for you. Go get stretched.
Know before you go:
» Group stretching: StretchLab is an open-air environment with rows of tables. Don’t worry. You’re fully clothed and, honestly, you are so caught up in stretching, you don’t notice anyone around you.
» Hurts so good: This is not a spa massage. Expect a sometimes uncomfortably deep stretch. You’ll feel great later.
» Dress appropriately: Loose-fitting athletic clothes and socks are a must. Avoid shorts or anything potentially revealing. As Iovenitti puts it, “I’m inches close to your face.”
» In good hands: All of the flexologists at StretchLab are trained and have body mechanics experience. We’re talking physical therapy, massage, yoga and athletic training.
» Customized approach: A brief consult and a high-tech machine pinpoint problem areas for a targeted stretch.
» Age is just a number: Whether you are 8 or 100, stretching is for you! “One client is 82,” StretchLab manager Melissa Fee says. “She stretches so she can move with greater flexibility.” N
By Kristina Lyman
Photography By Joel Riner
As Featured In: Winter/Spring 2022 Edition
1 Comment
Where can I find a place like this in Fort Wayne Indiana and in Florida near Cape Coral??? I reall need to do this!!!