Flexibility exercises are the most neglected part of a fitness program. Having flexibility can improve your posture, reduce your risk of injury, give you more freedom of movement, and release muscle tension and soreness. Before you start the stretching phase of your program, always do 5 to 10 minutes of warm-up to loosen your muscles.

Stretching cold muscles can lead to injury. Some examples of a warm up are walking around, marching in place, slowly riding an exercise bike, or lightly jogging. If stretching is part of a longer program that includes a cardiovascular workout, always stretch after the cool-down section of your program. You want to make sure that your heart rate has slowed before you begin the stretching phase.

You should try to do stretching exercises for each muscle group. Each stretch should be done slowly and held for at least 10 to 30 seconds. Do not bounce while you stretch, because bouncing can injure your muscles. Also, do not over stretch a muscle, because it can cause strain or even a tear. Try not to hold your breath while you stretch. Instead, take long, deep breaths throughout your stretching program.

One of the most important parts of an exercise program is the warm-up, but most people do not take the time to warm up properly. A warm up increases your body temperature and makes your muscles loose and ready to exercise. Marching in place, walking for a few minutes, doing some jumping jacks, or jogging in place are all ways to get the blood flowing to the muscles and to prepare them for exercise. For more details visit http://www.soundbodytrainer.com/