What it Means – To Be Flexible?
Flexibility is the range of motion in a joint or group of joints or the ability to move joints effectively through a complete range of motion.
You probably know what it means when someone says they are flexible. It usually means that they can reach down and touch their toes or bend deeply into a squad.. But the definition of flexibility is more complicated than simply being able to do a single stretch.
According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), flexibility is defined as "the range of motion of a given joint or group of joints or the level of tissue extensibility that a muscle group possesses." That means that each joint and each group of muscles in your body might have a different range of motion (ROM) or a different level of flexibility. Some areas of your body may be very tight, meaning that the muscles feel short and restricted. Some areas of your body may feel very loose and you may be able to lengthen and move those muscles freely.
For example, you might be very flexible in the hamstrings, allowing you to bend over and touch your toes. But your thighs (quadriceps) muscles might be tight (inflexible) so it may be harder for you to stand up straight or bend backward.
What Is Flexibility Training?
Stretching improves flexibility. But you don't have to do hours of stretching to enjoy the benefits of flexibility training. At our Ballet Body Sculpture Stretching & Body Conditioning classes or our online streaming videos, we focus on stretching exercises to improve range of motion throughout the body. Our programs generally begin with a gentle warm up to increase your body's core temperature. Then, we progress through a series of stretching exercises to lengthen the muscles in your feet, your legs, your hips and torso, arms and finally up through the head and neck.
You don't even have to take a dedicated class to do flexibility training. All our Ballet Body Sculpture Workout classes include a few minutes of stretching at the end of the class, to relax muscles and improve range of motion, as well as developing a range of joint motion through out of the workout. Even a few minutes of flexibility training each day can provide great benefits.
Stretching exercises can help to decrease stress and improve the way your body moves and feels throughout the day. Improved flexibility will also lead to better posture. All of these benefits help you to move more often throughout the day and burn more calories. So if you're trying to lose weight, it's smart to include flexibility exercises in your weight loss program.
See you by the barre ladies & gents!
Source: verywellfit.com