Stretch and Stay Fit
If you love everything about DDR and want to make sure you stay fit enough to keep it in your exercise rotation without having to fear the risk of injury, here are some tips to keep in mind with regard to the importance of stretching since your body will always perform better if you incorporate a series of stretches before undertaking any physical activity.
- Consider stretching to be as important an element as training for strength, balance and power.
- Proper alignment improves stretches and prevents injury consider practicing your stretches in front of a mirror until you know you have perfected alignment and can attain maximum benefit.
- Always practice deep and consistent breathing while stretching. To hold your breath as you stretch is counterintuitive to achieving any benefit.
- A tip for better breathing as you stretch includes inhaling through your nose while pulling air into your diaphragm not your chest and exhaling through your mouth. Pilates aficionados consistently use this technique to build core strength.
- You should warm your muscles before doing any stretching. This can be a simple one minute jog in place, just make sure that your muscles have been warmed up before asking them to perform a stretch of any kind.
- Stretching must encompass a “full body” approach. To exclude certain muscles is inviting trouble to crop up later. Most commonly overlooked muscles that rear their heads in injury and anger are the neck and hips.
- Be sure you do not stretch so hard that you cause the muscle to tear or cause injury to yourself. You will rapidly learn to distinguish the difference between a good stretch and a bad stretch. You should not feel any sharp pain, just a steady pull.
Since you’re already going to be linked with a television as you have fun with DDR you might consider purchasing a DVD that focuses on stretching and alignment techniques to help you prepare and stay injury-free.