8/29 Mental Toughness Thursday

Michelle practices the Warrior III. 
Coach Glassman challenges us to find fitness through mastering the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Have you noticed we've been practicing scales (holds), L-sits (holds), inversions (holds), planks (holds) and stretching? In fact, today we are practicing the splits. Can you do them? They are included in Coach's original CrossFit charter. Yet, vey few of us can do them. 
Let's face it. No one likes "stretching," and none of us do it enough. However, one of our CrossFit goals is to regain our full range of motion and increase our flexibility. Being flexible and have full range of motion of your joints and muscles is as equally important as strength, power, speed, endurance and stamina. 
Just like with everything we do in CrossFit, increasing flexibility and range of motion requires regular training. The good news is that we train our flexibility and mobility every day in class. More good news is that you can easily train your flexibility and mobility at home. Do you sit on the couch at home? Do couch stretch! 
Regular stretching also has other benefits such as:

• Stretching gives you a break from stress. The time you spent stretching is time when you can free your mind from your daily troubles. 
• Stretching relieves tension. Stretching can relieve tense muscles and help you loosen tight muscles. 
• Stretching can improve blood flow to your muscles. When you're sore from CrossFit, stretching can help increase blood flow to your muscles which helps them heal. 
• Stretching feels good. I know some of you don't "enjoy" stretching while you're doing it, but when you're done everything usually feels better. The benefits of feeling good should not underrated. When you're stressed out, spend 10 deep breaths in child's pose and notice how much better you feel. 

A daily stretching program has benefits for both your body and mind. It might take a while (perhaps years) before you can finally do the splits, but the journey is worth it. 

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