If you make time for cardio and strength training, but stretching isn’t on your regular workout agenda, it may be wise to carve out some time for it. Better flexibility has been linked to lower injury risk, improved blood flow, and reduced stress levels, to name just a few notable benefits. If you’re feeling stiff from injury, heredity, inactivity—or just the passing of time—it’s never too late to improve your movement and boost your health. Plus, it’s fitness that can easily be done at home too. This comprehensive guide offers advice on keeping joints healthy while providing a range of different exercises and routines, so every reader can find the right fit for them: yoga, Pilates, barre, and even dancing. It’s time to loosen up!
Why is Flexibility so Important? • You don’t have to bend like a pretzel to reap the benefits of getting and staying more limber.
FEEL LIGHTER AND LOOSER • If stress or inactivity makes every muscle feel like it’s stuck in a vice, it’s probably doing your body a great disservice. Here’s why sometimes you need to give your body (and mind) a rest.
Give It a Rest • Use these drills to power down when you feel your muscles tightening up.
Refine Your Response to Stress • How you respond to challenges has an impact on how quickly you’ll conquer hurdles. This tool helps you discover your coping style—and how you can react more effectively. Are you…
Breathe Your Way Calmer
The Best Breath-Work Exercises For…
STRETCH YOUR WAY HAPPIER & HEALTHIER • It’s never too late to become more supple, and you can boost your mental and physical well-being while you’re at it.
How Regular Stretching Benefits Your Heart Health
Static vs. Dynamic Stretching • Not every stretch is right for every situation. Depending on your goal—whether you’re warming up for a run or loosening up during the day—you should stretch accordingly, says Jeff Brannigan, M.S., who has worked with Olympic athletes and is co-founder and program director at Stretch*d, a stretch therapy studio in New York City.
Why Am I So Stiff? • Age or injury may make you feel more rigid than you used to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get more flexible.
THE SECRET TO BETTER MOVEMENT • Fascia is the word being whispered by doctors, trainers, yogis, and masseuses alike. But what exactly is it, and how does it impact your body?
THE SCIENCE OF JOINT HEALTH • If you’re feeling stiff and creaky and sounding squeaky, think of this as an owner’s guide to your joints.
Exercise for Happy Joints • It’s said that when it comes to joints, “motion is lotion.” So what exercise is best? “Walking is always great, but anything you enjoy enough to stick with will do the trick,” says Karen Litzy, D.P.T., owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy in New York City. Even running, once thought to be a fast path to developing arthritis, has been redeemed. In fact, a recent study found that serious runners were at no greater risk for knee arthritis. But keep these tips in mind:
What’s Causing My Joint Pain? • Over 30 conditions could be the culprit, and they fall into two categories: mechanical “wear and tear” injuries and inflammatory disorders. Here’s more about two of the most common.
STRETCHING FOR HEALTHY JOINTS • If you’re under the care of a doctor or physical therapist for joint pain, consult with your health professional before trying these moves.
ARE YOU SITTING TOO MUCH? • Scientists say too much time spent sitting can have a negative effect on your body—and your overall health and longevity. Here’s how to stand up for your life.
Your Body in a Chair • Sitting as much as many of us do increases our chance for some 35 serious conditions, likely because getting up and moving around is key for regulating proteins, genes, and other systems that lower our...