I stretch every day after I meditate in the morning (neck and shoulders) and in my morning and evening calisthenics (quads, Achilles, hamstring, etc). At times I work other stretches in.

Why do I stretch? The research I know says it doesn’t reduce injury, make me stronger, or enable me to do things otherwise. Yet I find value.

It looks like I’m pulling on muscles, tendons, ligaments, or whatever gets stretched. I don’t stretch to lengthen the muscle or ligament from pulling on it.

While pulling on it creates tension, I don’t stretch to create tension. I pull on it to find where I’m tensing it without realizing, so I can relax.

Step one is to pull to find where I’m tensing. That step creates self awareness. Step two is for my mind to find what part of it is signaling the muscle to be tense. This takes patience and causes it. Step three is for the muscle to lengthen, which is sometimes pleasing, but the greater effect is for my mind to stop creating the tension. The relaxation is physical and mental.

If I’m stressed and impatient, it’s harder to relax. Pulling on a muscle lets me find where I’m tensing. It’s worth noting, I create tension to release tension. I stretch for how it makes me feel after.

<no picture yet. I meant to take a picture of me stretching, but I’ll have to get to it later this week.>

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