Author touts stretching for physical, mental health

By Jin Yu-young

Living in the 21st century has made adults less physically active than ever before: elevators have taken away the need for stairs, public transportation has made walking a nuisance, and long hours at our desk jobs have left our posture mediocre and bodies stiff.

After fitness expert Jessica Matthews realized the devastating effects a sedentary lifestyle could have, when members of her family were diagnosed with chronic diseases, she took it upon herself to help others become more active.

In her book, “Stretching to Stay Young: Simple Workouts to Keep You Flexible, Energized, and Pain Free,” she explains the scientific reasoning behind the benefits of daily stretching and includes detailed workout plans for readers to easily follow along. The book was recently translated into Korean by Park Seo-ryoung.

“Stretching to Stay Young: Simple Workouts to Keep You Flexible, Energized, and Pain Free” by Jessica Matthews

There are many misconceptions that people have about stretching. That stretching is only beneficial to those already flexible, that we only need to stretch muscles that have been used during our workouts, and that stretching is a painful experience, are a few of them.

To these myths, Matthews responds by saying, “stretching can improve anyone's flexibility, posture, and body awareness and help alleviate both physical and mental stress.” She also emphasizes that all muscles of the body must be stretched to reach optimal performance and that we should incorporate our entire body in our stretch exercises.

Additionally she stresses the importance of being safe and maintaining good form; although reaching minor discomfort is a sign that we are pushing ourselves to become more flexible, “forcing your body to work beyond its limits not only lessens the potential benefits of stretching, but also significantly increases your risk of injury.”

Her step-by-step instructions and diverse workout plans make stretching possible for all ages. She gives multiple exercises for each muscle group, diversifying the repertoire, and shows readers how to combine different stretches based on desired outcomes. Even those with previous injuries or medical restrictions can modify and decrease the intensity of her exercises to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Being a fitness expert and having years of experience in the industry, she assures us that stretching on a regular basis will decrease body stiffness and stress while increasing functioning and range of motion. Stretching is not just for our bodies, but also for our mental health.

For those who are still hesitant to begin their fitness journey, Matthews suggests hiring a professional such as a personal trainer to properly instruct them. Through writing this book, the author hopes that readers will find a “way to improve [their] fitness, health, and well-being.”

Jin Yu-young is a Korea Times intern.