Are you a yoga fanatic and wondering if getting stretched could be beneficial for you? We’re here to tell you that it definitely can! Regardless if you attend classes, are an instructor, or actively do any of the many types of yoga, adding a one-on-one assisted stretch session to your weekly routine could greatly benefit your yoga experience!

Yoga and Stretching

You may think of yoga as another form of stretching because it’s slower paced and helps improve flexibility - but yoga is a full-body workout! Stretching is important in ensuring your body is prepped for getting into, and holding poses.

If you’re new to yoga, stretching helps your muscles warm up so that they are able to properly move. If your body is tight when you try to get into a pose, you likely won’t be able to get into the pose deeply or hold it for long enough. Or worse, you could pull something and hurt yourself. And while yoga can help improve your flexibility, regularly stretching can help you maintain and even improve upon the progress you are making with your yoga practice!

Let’s say you are someone who has plenty of experience with yoga. Becoming more flexible or being able to get into a pose may not be a concern for you. But those aren’t the only reasons to stretch! Stretching helps strengthen muscles that can help improve posture, stance, and balance. The power and control you gain from stretching allows you to get more out of your yoga poses and even advance your technique.

Getting Stretched For Yoga

Did you know that there are many different schools and styles of yoga like power, vinyasa, and slow flow just to name a few? Regardless of the style of yoga or the theme of the class, the classes are typically designed for a general purpose. This means, if you have specific goals that you want to achieve in your body or need customizations for accommodations, you may not get that unless you are working one-on-one with an instructor.

An assisted stretch allows you to work with a professional that can help you get deeper into the stretch without hurting yourself. At StretchLab, our Flexologists assess your movements, muscle and joint restrictions, and overall flexibility to help design a program specific to your needs and goals.

A Flexologist will be able to identify muscles that need to be engaged when performing a particular stretch. If you have a goal you’re working towards with yoga, they will keep this in mind when choosing and assisting you with a stretch. Not only that, they will also be able to help you make the micro adjustments needed to ensure you are stretching correctly and safely. 

More active forms of yoga teach you the balance of strength and flexibility through holding poses for a longer period of time, usually counted in breaths. When working with a Flexologist, you will also be able to gain strength and balance in your muscles while increasing flexibility through a technique called PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) - referred to as ‘contract and release’ technique. Being able to work with someone one-on-one to help properly do this technique and gain strength and balance can help improve your experience with yoga!

It may seem like getting stretched and doing yoga is too much, but these forms of flexibility training don’t have to be one or the other. Getting stretched is meant to complement the work you are already putting in. Try it for yourself by checking out a StretchLab near you and see how much more you can gain from your yoga experience!