Is Stretching for Bodybuilders Also?

When you read this title, you’re probably asking yourself what this guy is talking about. If you are, then this article is for you for sure.

If you are serious about muscle grow you probably do everything you need to get the best results.. You train hard, have a balanced diet and sleep well to make sure you recover for the next training session.

But you probably don’t think to stretch, right? Stretching is for the ‘yoga freak’ you think. Not at all, my friend！ If you want your muscles to grow as big as you want, you must to fit in some stretching in your training session. Flexibility is very important for building muscles.

Keep reading to discover why.

Every muscle of your body is covered by a tissue called a ‘fascia’. This tissue is like a bag and envelopes your muscles. The fascia is very important because it holds your muscles in the right place in your body.

But the bad news is the fascia can limit your muscle growth. You muscles try to grow but the fascia stops the process. Do you know why? The muscles have no space to get bigger. It’s simple.

The fascia is a very robust tissue and does not permit the muscle much room to expand. For example; you try to blow a balloon inside of another balloon. When the balloon inside grows and touches the second balloon, it will be difficult for you to keep going. No matter how well you train and how wonderful your diet is, the fascia will prevent your muscles growing.

Stretching is the solution

Using the illustration of the 2 balloons, visualize if you can stretch the outside balloon first. It will give you more room for the inside balloon to get bigger.

By doing some stretching exercises, you will at the same time stretch the fascia tissues. You will give your muscles some room to grow!

The best time to stretch your muscles and expand the fascia at the same time is when your muscles are pumped – that means they are full of blood. This is the wonderful time for stretching because your muscles force against the fascia and try to grow.

For example, finish your chest routine with some incline dumbbells fly. Keep the position at the bottom of the motion for few seconds for a good stretch. This will really stretch the fascia.

You should never stretch when you are cold. You want to stretch when your muscles are warm. I like to stretch between every set. Stretching at the same time as doing your weight training encourages a better blood flow. This is the recipe for a better ‘pump’ and better muscle growth.

Hold your stretch between 20 to 30 seconds. To be able to stretch your fascia you need to stretch little more than just a regular stretch. But be careful not to pull a muscle. This is why you need to stretch when you are warm, and your body temperature is raised from your warm-up and from your workout.

Remember, for better muscle growth next time you reach the gym, don’t forget to stretch. Try this for 8 weeks and you will begin to see a big difference in your muscle growth. Yes, stretching is for bodybuilders too!

In my e-book the Ultimate Guide to Express Fat Loss you will found a full chapter on stretching and the importance to stretch.