How long should you stretch before a workout

Stretching is always a good idea. Whether you bend and stretch for a few seconds in bed, at your desk, or while watching a movie, your body will be grateful.

That said, when you’re trying to limber up before a workout, reduce muscle soreness, or improve your flexibility, the length of time you hold a stretch suddenly starts to matter.

Typically, most people don’t hold a stretch for as long as they should, says yoga teacher Trin Perkins, M.S.Ed, RYT 200.

How long should you hold a stretch to increase flexibility

If you’re just stretching an arm or a leg for a few seconds, it may feel nice — but it’s not going to do much for your muscles. “Not holding a stretch long enough and not stretching frequently are two common reasons that people don’t experience results from stretching,” she tells Bustle.

“It takes several seconds to fully relax into a stretch, get into a comfortable position to hold it, and relax into the discomfort.”

In other words, when you let go too quickly, your muscles don’t have enough time to do their thing.

During a stretch, “there’s an increase in blood flow and circulation to

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