Stretching, It's Not Just For Your Body Anymore

By: J Lance Curtis

Copyright 2006 J Lance Curtis

"Where Your Mind Goes, Your Body Follows."

Wade McNutt Natural Champion Bodybuilder

Flexibility is critical for proper body movement. And to achieve
that requires proper stretching. You instinctively stretch,
usually after first awakening. You push your limbs in extended
movements to get that 'good stretch' feeling.

This book is insufficient to devise a stretching program to meet
your total needs. There are plenty of good books out there. The
one I have used for years is called 'Stretching' by Bob
Anderson. He now has a DVD version if you prefer a visual
approach. Both are available through Amazon.com.

The Key to stretching is when to do it. It was once thought that
stretching should be part of your warm-up. Stretch and be ready
for your workout. Now we know differently.

Stretching should be done at the end of your workout, after the
muscles are warmed and supple. The problem is that you are
usually pushing to finish your workout and get out of the gym,
not trying to find a way to stay longer. However, allow me to
encourage you to plan your stretching as part of your workout.

Taking less than 5 minutes to stretch out the major muscles just
worked not only feels good but gives you lasting physical
benefits. I had the pleasure to train a married couple, who
first met at yoga class. These two had stretching down pat!
While they and most yoga practitioners will bend your ear with
the positives of stretching, you don't have to do yoga to feel
real benefits.

Get Bob Anderson's book and incorporate stretching into your
regular workout routine. Plan for it, do it.

While stretching the muscles is important, this title of this
chapter implies something more than physical stretching. I
believe there is a form of stretching that is essential key to
long term success for you.

Recently, Forbes Magazine interviewed billionaire Richard
Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways. During the
course of the interview he said something very interesting while
talking about his mentor, Freddie Laker.

Richard Branson said, "At the time, I was running a little
record company; I was about 17 years old. The first time I met
him was some years later. I was thinking about setting up my own
airline. He gave me this advice: 'You'll never have the
advertising power to outsell British Airways. You are going to
have to get out there and use yourself. Make a fool of yourself.
Otherwise you won't survive'."

I won't ask you to make a 'fool' out of yourself, however, I
believe you must stretch. Stretch your mind.

All of my clients, at one time or the other, have heard me say
this, "we all have limits in the gym, and over 80% of your
limitation is mental. My job as your personal trainer is to push
you to your limit, and a little bit beyond, so that your limit
is stretched. Each time you go into the gym you are pushed
against your new limits. You will always feel like your head is
'banging against the wall'. But over time, in retrospect, you
will be able to see the progress that you cannot really see each
day because of the frustration of 'hitting your limit'."

Now that is a poorly worded way of saying that you are either
stretching your limitations or your dying. Your limits are
really only limits of your mind, your faith, your belief. You
must know that although you don't realize all your goals now,
you are making progress toward those each day.

My book of faith and doctrine puts it this way, "faith is the
substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not
seen."

You don't wake up one day and magically get the body you want
(or endurance, or self-confidence or whatever your goal is). You
take small steps each day, make small decisions each day, each
of which either gets you closer, or further away, from your goal.

Remember to stretch your mind and body. Both are essential to
your long term success.

Daily disciplines help 'stretch' your mind. If you need a tool,
or aid, in focusing on what is most important to you allow me to
recommend a website called Simpleology.com. I don't make any
money from this recommendation, but I have received tremendous
value from what Mark Joyner has done there. Don't let the name
fool you. Check it out!

About the author:
Lance Curtis is a personal trainer and author of "7 Keys to
Unlock The Sexy Dream Body Inside You!" To claim your free copy
go to http://ThePersonalTrainingGuru.com