Stretching and yoga are the same thing, right? While both are great flexibility exercises, each have their own unique method of movement that make them two vastly different modalities. There’s often a misconception that if someone is already doing yoga, then they don’t need to stretch. Let’s explore why stretching can be a great complement to anyone’s yoga routine!
While stretching and yoga appear to be very similar, they are different modalities with their own unique benefits!
Stretching is the act of extending or lengthening a muscle or group of muscles to improve their flexibility and range of motion. While there are various forms of stretching, static stretching is the most similar to yoga. Static stretching involves gently placing muscles under tension in a standing, sitting, or lying position for at least 20 seconds. This form of stretching is beneficial for loosening tight muscles and increasing flexibility.
Yoga is by nature a form of meditative exercise, rooted in spiritual practices. Its various formats incorporate poses that are similar to static stretches. However, yoga practices flowing sequences of poses, designed to create a balanced workout – so don’t be fooled by its slow paced movements; yoga is often a challenging full body workout! If your goal is to break a sweat or increase your heart rate, yoga may be what you’re thinking of.
Both stretching and yoga can help increase flexibility. Many people think that if they do yoga, then they do enough stretching. Static, dynamic, and assisted stretching might in fact be highly necessary, and even improve your performance, endurance, and reduce your risk of injury during your yoga practice.
If you’re someone that takes one yoga class a week, a separate and specific stretching routine can help you maintain the flexibility gained during your class. Dynamic stretches can help warm up and loosen your muscles, helping to prevent stiffness in the initial part of the class and allowing for further progress in your flexibility. After your yoga class, static stretches can be a great cool down to help reduce any potential soreness and further relax your muscles to minimize tension and tightness. To take this a step further, you can even add advanced stretching techniques such as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) to help further improve flexibility.
But stretching isn’t just about flexibility! Having a regular stretch routine can also help increase range of motion, improve posture, reduce muscle tension and tightness, and decrease chronic pain, allowing for better quality of life. Stretching can easily be incorporated into anyone’s daily routine and is accessible to do no matter your current flexibility level!
Anyone can stretch and practice yoga on their own, but both are best executed with guidance and expert assistance. For beginners, common questions for approaching either modality are “how do I start”, “what do I need to know”, and “how do I know if I’m doing this correctly”. Best way to learn is by having a professional guide you. Additionally, even yoga experts can benefit from working with a stretch professional! Working with a professional that can create a stretching program for you will ensure you’re getting a customized experience just for you and your goals.
An assisted stretch can help you get a deeper stretch, hold the stretch for the necessary length of time, and incorporate advanced stretching techniques such as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) which is easier to execute with assistance.
Many of our stretch practitioners are also yoga enthusiasts! And they know firsthand why anyone that does yoga could also benefit from an assisted stretch. Find a StretchLab near you to learn more!