Online training has become a daily norm today. You can do yoga or Stretching in this mode from absolutely anywhere on the planet with the best teachers in real time.
The popularity of home online yoga and Stretching courses is growing every day. But many beginners often confuse these two completely different directions and expect the same results from the practices. Let's take a closer look at what the difference between them is.
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What is Stretching?
Translated from English, Stretching means “Stretching.” The main purpose of Stretching as a sports and recreational area is to develop physical flexibility of the body, improve joint mobility and gently lengthen muscles and ligaments.
Not a single training session for professional athletes is complete without high-quality Stretching. This is an obligatory part of the warm-up and cool-down in fitness, as well as an independent system of exercises for improving the health of the musculoskeletal system.
The modern Stretching system was formed in the 50s of the 20th century thanks to Swedish physiologists who scientifically proved the benefits of tissue Stretching to improve athletic performance. And in the 70s, Stretching became part of the mandatory training programs of Olympic teams around the world.
Stretching is characterized by high smoothness of movements. All exercises are performed slowly and without jerking to avoid injury. Acute pain should not be allowed. There must be controlled muscle discomfort and slight tension, otherwise there is a high risk of injury.
5 golden rules for effective Stretching:
- Warm up thoroughly. Be sure to spend 15-20 minutes doing cardio or joint warm-up before starting to stretch. Hot muscles stretch much easier.
- Breath control. Never hold your breath. Breathe deeply and smoothly, directing your exhalation into the stretched area.
- Elastic clothing. Use a shape that does not restrict movement.
- Static hold. Hold the poses for 15–45 seconds, giving the nervous system time to relax the muscle.
- Regularity. The optimal regimen is 3-4 workouts per week, and to quickly achieve splits - up to 6 times.
What is yoga
Yoga is the oldest Indian system of self-knowledge and harmonization, which includes not only physical exercises (asanas), but also breathing practices (pranayama), meditation and a deep philosophy of working with your consciousness.
There are many different complexes and directions in yoga. If your main goal is exclusively to develop flexibility, improve muscle tone, posture and safely work out joints, then choose Stretching.
Stretching borrows many exercises from classical yoga, but clears them of their philosophical context, focusing only on the physical health of the body. Stretching helps solve problems with the spine, prevent degenerative changes in joints and relieve the nervous system after a hard day at work.