Even those who don’t exercise a lot during the day, it can be beneficial to try a new stretching routine before going to bed. “I tell my patients to compare themselves to someone running a marathon,”Anna Ribaudo, clinical lead at the Integrative Care Center in San Francisco, says: HSS. “Your day is like your marathon. It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking, standing or sitting at a desk, your muscles are being tested. Stretching is a way to relax them so you can rest more comfortably,”She said.
According to a 2016 study, via HealthlineIt was found that yoga and tai-chi movements have a positive effect on participants’ sleep quality. To improve your pre-sleep routine, you don’t need to be a yogi or flexible. Relaxation can be achieved by stretching before bed. This is not the time to force yourself into a tree pose or touch your knees with your forehead. “The biggest thing to keep in mind when you’re stretching is not to push yourself too far,”Ribaudo to HSS. “There may be a bit of discomfort but there should not be pain. You should be able to breathe throughout the stretch,”She adds.
A good night’s rest is crucial to your health — and attitude. Before you go to bed, take some time to stretch out and unwind.