I’m a big advocate of stretching to increase one’s health overall. Even for the most inactive of individuals, adding just 5 minutes of stretching per day can increase your flexibility and reduce your chances of injury. Of course adding as little as 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity per day can significantly impact your life by reducing your risk for heart disease, shedding pounds and toning muscle.

The problem is that many people don’t know how to stretch properly, thus creating more harm than good. The Mayo Clinic offers an informative slide show to illustrate stretching the major muscle groups. Use their tips to start a new program of activity or to enhance an existing one. Most importantly get moving and do it with proper stretching before and after. Keep in mind that certain types of massage therapy are structured with stretching and joint mobilization as the foundation. Another tip: You can increase your range of motion and deepen stretches after a 13-20 minute warm epsom salt bath.

Good luck! Who knows? Maybe you can reintroduce your fingertips to your toes in no time!


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