Many people struggle to fall asleep and then stay that way all night long. Because of it, they are constantly looking for better ways to help them fall asleep at night. They will also try anything to make sure that they wake up feeling rested.
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While many turn to medication to help them fall asleep faster, many are looking for something simpler. In fact, they are starting to turn to relaxation and meditation techniques to ensure that they feel better in the morning. Some try to exercise right before bed, while others make sure that they get their workout early. That being said, stretching before bed may help you get a better night's sleep.
What are the benefits of stretching before bed?
There are many benefits of stretching before you go to bed. Here are some of them.
- It is a natural way to sleep better at night. It relieves muscle tension so you don't find yourself waking up during the night due to pain.
- Stretching is a good way to relieve stress. After stretching, your body can focus on sleeping (and not everything else that is going on in your life).
- It helps children wind down before bed. A few simple stretches can help your children prepare for bed because it helps them to relax their bodies.
- It works the same for adults. Many adults struggle to leave their busy days behind them so it is important to use stretching as a way to forget about all of your troubles.
- Stretching is good for flexibility. Unfortunately, many adults start to lose flexibility as they age and doing a few simple stretches for bed can help to increase flexibility in the body.
- It is also good to prevent injuries. Not only will stretching help with flexibility, but it can also help with balance problems so people are less likely to fall and hurt themselves. This is especially true for older people.
Are there any reasons why you shouldn't stretch before you go to bed?
Though most people would recommend stretching for bed, there are some times when you shouldn't. These include:
- Illness. If you aren't feeling well, you might want to forgo the stretches in order to get more sleep.
- Injury. If you have suffered from an injury, stretching may make it worse. Make sure that you consult a doctor before you start stretching if you have injured yourself recently.
- Surgery. The same should be said of those who have had surgery. You need to talk to your doctor to make sure that you can safely stretch without damaging anything.
- Spasms. If you suffer from spasms, stretching may just make your condition worse.
What parts of your body should you stretch?
Since there are so many different stretches that you could do, you might want to focus on some of these:
- Neck and shoulders. Most adults hold their stress in their neck and shoulders so it is important to stretch it out before you go to bed. It is also beneficial to loosen your neck so you are less likely to wake up with a stiff neck in the morning.
- Feet. Many people stand on their feet most of the day so you shouldn't forget about them! This will relax your feet, help you sleep, and improve your balance all at the same time!
- Hips. If you spend most of your day sitting, you need to open up your hips to relieve the stress and discomfort of your day. This may also relax your back so you are able to sleep.
If you are struggling to get enough sleep at night, you may want to try stretching. It allows you to leave the stress of the day behind so you can focus on your breathing. You may notice that your body soon learns to prepare for sleep, as soon as you start your stretches!