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In our 20s and 30s, it’s easy to forgo a regular stretching routine because, well, nothing creaks.
But then, out of nowhere, you bend down to pick up a fallen fork – and can’t get up! Knees ache. Back muscles twinge. The whole body sighs. As the old saying goes, “I felt 21. Then I felt age.”
“Regular stretching, or flexibility, exercises can help take the ‘age’ out of aging – the pain related to muscle tightness. Regular stretching can also improve your mobility and range of motion, enhancing life in all sorts of ways, from a better golf swing to just being able to turn your head better while driving,” says Scott Danberg, MS, Director of Exercise at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Aventura, Florida.
Fitness Advice Guide - Exercise Routine
Follow the exercise routine recommended by Pritikin's exercise physiologists.
Stretching
A more flexible body also greatly decreases your chance of injury from both daily and weekend activities.
At Pritikin, guests stretch daily in several fitness classes, including “Core & Stretch” and “Yoga.”
“These classes are very popular,” says Scott, “because for the first time many guests experience how relaxing and rejuvenating stretching can be. They call their stretching classes ‘a massage from the inside out.’”
For continued stretching at home, the exercise physiologists at Pritikin recommend that guests:
- Stretch at least 10 minutes every day
- Hold each stretch 10 to 30 seconds
To get started, try the Pritikin Longevity Center’s Full Body Stretching Routine – 15 exercises praised by Pritikin guests worldwide for their effectiveness and doability at any age and level of fitness.
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