Supple Body, Supple Mind

Stretching is a free pleasure that you should avail yourself of. Not all spiritual work is physical. Sometimes working on the body goes directly to the source of the problem.

Apart from being fun, a supple body works better, recovers better and can do more things.Twenty years of yoga and stretching has also convinced me that suppleness of the body translates to suppleness of mind. When I stretch regularly I become more resilient and accommodating in general.

Stretching also combines well with almost any other form of exercise. Want to run or cycle faster? Want to chase better in tennis or squash? And to relax  after a long day of work? Stretching is the answer.

So where to start?

• Easy does it.
• Regularity does it. Start with a few minutes every second day.
  
• Its is best to start under the supervision of an instructor. A beginners yoga class is a good entry point.
• When it hurts, back off.
• Hamstrings and quads are the most important. The dogstretch does your hammies well. Youtube shows you how. Your quads are done like this.
• Stretching is about relaxing, not competing.
• If you have only a few minutes a day, learn the Salute to the Sun. Learn how on youtube.
• When you are starting off, make sure you keep yourself hydrated. Dehydration stiffens you up further.
• If backpain is your problem, try the Cat stretch (See it in Youtube)