• Claire Bellingham

Feeling Flexible?

Being flexible is a key building block for a fit and healthy body.

Unfortunately, flexibility is usually the poor cousin of the fitness regime beside cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength. As a PT, I find it quite hard to convince non-stretchers to start stretching. Many require an intervention like an injury to get motivated!

When people begin an exercise regime they often don’t give much thought to either promoting flexibility or preventing injury. Building fitness and strength is much more exciting, especially when it’s accompanied by weight loss. Building flexibility is much less exhilarating and doesn’t directly relate to shifting kilos on the scales so many people don’t prioritise it. But fitness and strength can only take you so far. They start out as a great partnership. The fitter you are the harder you can push yourself with your strength, and the stronger you are the harder you can push yourself with your cardiovascular fitness. Strong leg muscles help you run faster, running faster gives you stronger leg muscles. It’s an empowering upwards spiral until you become brittle and something snaps. Then you plummet right down to the bottom of your spiral. Nothing derails a fitness plan like an injury and you’ll spend far more time at the physio than you ever would have in preventative stretching.  

Being flexible doesn’t just protect you from injury, it’s also a great asset in everyday life.  Many people spend most of the day sitting. Whether they are in the car, at work or relaxing at home they are in a hunched over position.  Without adequate stretching to counter this position the posture can become your new normal, reinforced every day of your seated life.  Poor posture affects your health in several ways. It puts stress on muscles and joints which can create pain in your neck and back. It makes you more vulnerable to minor injuries from daily activities such as bending, stretching and even sleeping. It also prevents optimal circulation. Some research suggests a link between poor posture and poor mental health. Good posture and general flexibility make everything easier.

It’s normal to gravitate towards the things you are good at, so the naturally flexible people are usually more willing to stretch than the people who really need it. It can be helpful to stretch in a class situation where there is structure and interest. My favourite way to work on flexibility is a Les Mills Body Balance class. One of the best things about summer is that you can do this class outside, which has the added benefits of fresh air, sunshine and proximity to coffee and brunch! Les Mills Takapuna is running free Body Balance classes from Sunday November 5th onwards. Join us on the grass outside the Takapuna Beach Café for a mix of yoga, pilates and tai chi against a beautiful beach backdrop.  The year is only getting busier from now, so if your fitness habits have slowed a little then this could be the gentle start you need to claim some vitality for the summer. See you there!


By: , Claire Bellingham of Les Mills Takapuna.

Issue 82 November 2017