I know I’m guilty of not doing this at times. And when I am, my flexibility takes a hit.
So simple, yet so vital.
Drink more water.
Without water, our muscles and supporting connective tissue get dried out. And to protect themselves from injury, range of motion becomes limited.
Imagine a rubber band. Pliable when moist, but let it dry out a little bit and that sucker snaps.
Your body is the same way. Believe me, I know. I’ve hurt myself like this before.
So if you’re looking to improve your flexibility, water is key.
Test it out for yourself. Check to see where you are in terms of flexibility. Then, spend a day or two drinking enough water to replenish your body (depending on how active you are, this can vary. Let’s say a baseline 64 oz for inactive folks.) Now, once well-hydrated, check to see where your flexibility stands. Did you notice a difference?
If you need to drink coffee or some other caffeinated beverage to get through your day, be sure to include an extra glass or two of water to counteract the dehydrating effects of each beverage.
Having a well-hydrated body while stretching or practicing yoga helps flush out the trapped toxins that are being released. And with that improving not only your flexibility, but your immune system, as well.
All the more reason to make the effort to drink more water every day.
Tips for drinking more water:
1. Drink 2 glasses of water first thing in the morning. Increases metabolism and replenishes lost fluids from sleep.
2. If you have trouble remembering to drink water, set alarms on your phone until the habit is established
3. Add some lemon (or other fruits!) in your water if you can’t handle the taste of plain water. Avoid artificial sweeteners.
Let me know if this one tip helped!
