Do you often get up in the morning feeling a little stiff in your muscles and joints? Maybe it’s time you allow yourself the time to do some stretching before you start your day. A little stretching can clear your mind and provide you with that extra boost of energy first thing in the morning. So before you go off and start making that rich espresso coffee give your body a chance to wake up the natural way.
A great inexpensive resistance workout tool to help get those hamstrings a good stretch is a theraband or sometimes called a resistance band. Made simply from a strong latex rubber. Start while lying down, holding the band at the ends – placing your foot in the middle. Then with the non-band leg lying straight on the floor raise the band with the leg toward the ceiling with your knee slightly bent. You should feel the stretch. Hold for a time then switch to the other leg.
Resistance bands can also be used in strength training. They are a good substitute for free weights. Bands provide you with resistance on the upswing and downswing of an exercise. Bands give you a consistent tension to the exercise. And the best part of these bands is that you can create resistance from different directions such as going from a bicep curl to an overhead press.
Bands are portable and lightweight. Carry them to work and sneak in a workout during lunch break or take them to your local gym if they don’t provide them. And don’t be surprised fellow workout mates will watch you with interest