Holding your stretch in a static position works best. A good time to do your stretching exercises is while resting between lifts during your strength training. Strength training will not decrease your flexibility, says Pitchford, as long as you do it properly and perform your lifts through their full range of motion. This is because immobilizing a muscle can lead to decreased blood flow and muscle atrophy. If you stretch properly while recovering from an injury, you can speed that recovery.
Studies show that a sedentary lifestyle is a bigger factor in decreasing flexibility than aging.
If you stay active aerobically and use stretching to maintain your flexibility, you will look and feel younger because of the way you move. Finally, the key to the exercises presented below is to maintain good form. Don't look sloppy stretching. The 90-degree angles featuring straight backs and carefully positioned limbs that work in the strength exercises promoted by personal trainer Cathy Vasto also work well in many of the stretching exercises promoted by Debbie Pitchford. Pitchford's five fantastic stretching exercises follow.