Stress, anxiety, etc.: This underestimated habit is so good for us

Anyone who has practiced yoga for an extended period of time knows how beneficial it is for our bodies when we stretch regularly. How much better our back, neck, and shoulders feel when they are gently moved repeatedly. But we don't just benefit physically from stretching exercises—stretching is also good for our brains.

This is what stretching does to our body

To understand why our brain, and thus our psyche, love stretching so much, it's helpful to first look at the positive effects on a physical level. This includes, for example, the fact that stretching stimulates our blood circulation . Stretching also activates the parasympathetic nervous system , the part of our nervous system responsible for relaxation. This means that stretching can help us reduce stress. Regular stretching sessions also help with anxiety and improve sleep .

This is how stretching affects our brain

Regular stretching is also so important because it gives our brain a sense of security. If we feel our limits—for example, if we can't touch our toes with our fingers while bending forward and keeping our legs stretched out—this is, according to "GEO," a function of our brain that wants to protect us from injury and danger. Because on a purely physical level, most people are capable of doing this.

If our nervous system learns through regular, careful stretching that we can perform this movement without injuring ourselves, it will "allow" us a little more range of motion the next time we try.

According to GEO, if our muscles are tense in stressful situations, this is less a mechanical restriction imposed by the muscles, but rather a neural protective reaction of our brain. When it feels safer, the muscle tension eases, and we become more flexible.

Just a few minutes a day can help

And for these reasons—because stretching helps put our nervous system into relaxation mode, and because we can encourage our brain to change and become "loose" with gentle stretching exercises—forms of exercise like yoga, Pilates, or Tai Chi are so good for us.

But it doesn't necessarily have to involve an expensive course, a special sport, or a complicated choreography. If you want to do something good for your body and mind, you can simply start by incorporating some gentle stretching exercises for the spine, hips, legs, and other muscles into your daily routine. Even a few minutes a day can do us good and make us feel better all around. Learn what to pay attention to when stretching in this article on stretching .

mbl Brigitte

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