5 Thought Friday — SleepMindHeart

5 Thoughts for the week - check out the data on stretching:

1. What I am currently reading, viewing, or listening to:

Huberman Lab podcast: Improve flexibility using stretching techniques supported by research. Fantastic ideas on how to increase flexibility and also improve overall health through stretching. He highlights Yoga as one of these “go-to” techniques.
Listened at 1.5x speed and recommend starting at hour 1 since the first 60 minutes focused on very technical aspects of the muscles and nerves.

2. Gratitude Practice (for improved happiness):

Grateful for a long weekend to refocus my energies and catch up on several outstanding nagging tasks.

3. Wellness ideas to consider:

Fascinated by stretching and the benefits it brings. The Huberman podcast in #1 really opened my eyes to focus on techniques that will amp up my stretching gains, which I had not understood previously.
Example: The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, noted that holding very low-intensity static stretches (meaning - an effort that feels not painful and might feel easy and not straining) for 30 seconds is much more effective than painful, high-intensity stretching.

4. What I’m eating, drinking, buying, or whatever else is on my mind:

Cooking: Yellow chicken curry
Chicken, green and red peppers, potatoes, garlic, ginger, onions, curry spice, cayenne spice, and chicken stock. Delicious, healthy, and fun to cook for the wonderful aromas.

5. Quote(s) I am Pondering:

Yoga does not change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees” B.K.S. Iyengar, prominent yoga instructor
In full transparency, I am not actively practicing yoga or any consistent stretching routine. I am hoping this research over the past week will help transform my stretching routine mindset!

Happy Friday!

Mike