Why stretching matters

Stretching isn’t just for athletes. It supports your joints and muscles so you can move through daily life with less stiffness. When done consistently and gently, stretching can:

• Improve range of motion so your hips, shoulders, and spine feel less “locked up.”
• Reduce that tight, achy feeling that builds up from sitting, driving, or stress.
• Support posture and movement quality (your body tends to “default” to whatever positions you repeat most).
• Help you relax—slow breathing + easy stretches can downshift your nervous system before sleep.