I am the epitome of idleness; not because I am lazy but because of my chronic illness. My uncontrolled epilepsy causes multiple seizures throughout the day and status epilepticus at night, leading to constant exhaustion. Even a simple task can consume all my energy, let alone anything physical. Just existing uses up more energy than the average person.

So I challenged myself to stretch every day for 31 days, to see if it could make a difference. Now, 31 days does not create a habit. It takes anywhere from 18 to 254 days, as science suggests. Nonetheless, I wanted to try to condition my body to a point that stretching wouldn’t seem like extra effort.

What does stretching do to your body?

The muscles are a fascinating fiber in our body. When we stretch, the fibers have the ability to maintain elongation, unlike a rubber band that just snaps back to its original shape. However, to maintain that elongation, regular movement within that range is necessary.

As we age, the elastic fibers in our body regenerate less effectively, causing a reduction in movement range and muscle stiffness. Thus, movement and stretching become increasingly important as we grow older. For more information on the significance of movement, check out my other article Movement Matters.

Week 1

Initially I was unsure of how to begin. With no established routine, I was randomly stretching exercises. Then, I discovered a free app called Female Fitness – Women Workout. It offers targeted stretching routines such as full body, morning warm up, sleepy time stretch, and even splits training. It was the perfect place to start for the person who lacked direction. I also found a YouTuber who specialized in stretching techniques which allowed me to gain more knowledge along my journey. Below, is one of his videos of a easy 10 minute stretch, for any skill level, if you are interested in checking out his content.

Week 2

During this week, something surprising happened – I began to look forward to stretching. I found myself taking breaks to stretch my body, and even found ways to incorporate stretching while working. At this point I had established an actual stretch routine. Here were my rules:

1. Engage my entire body in stretching – this did not apply to the stretches I did while I was still actively working at my computer or doing another activity. This meant I was dedicating time to actually do a full body stretch.  
2. No time restrictions. – I wanted to stretch until I felt good, not until the clock/timer said I was done.  
3. I stretched to discomfort, not pain. Once the discomfort disappeared, I would push a little further.

Week 3

By week three, a shift occurred in my mindset. I no longer needed the distraction of YouTube to complete a stretching session. It was the first time my body had moved since my brain surgery, and I never rebuilt an emotional connection to physical movement. But when I focused on how I felt, physically and emotionally as I flowed from one position to the next, I realized it was a peaceful experience.

Week 4

After consistent stretching, I began to see physical results.  I even noticed a significant difference in my overall flexibility. Am I ready to join Cirque Du Soleil? I think not. But incorporating movement into my day made a difference. Even the smallest amount of movement of our body can increase blood and fluid supply to our bodies. The small results I achieved during these 31 days have motivated me to continue stretching beyond this challenge.

What kinds of benefits do you find from stretching? I would love to hear about your stretching routine, leave it in the comments below!