Hydrate... and then hydrate some more!
Hydration is essential to life!
Think about it…
Every human, every animal, every plant, every tree, every blade of grass needs water to survive. If it doesn’t get enough, it shrivels, dries up, and dies.
What does hydration have to do with stretching, you ask?
That is what I am here to tell you! It is an extremely important topic, so I hope you will stay with me here and read all the way to the end to find out.
Hydration determines the quality of our muscle tissue and its ability to stretch and lengthen.
When a new student comes to my studio for their first stretch session, we have an orientation discussion about the benefits of stretching and how stretching can improve their quality of life. We also discuss their goals and concerns.
“How much water do you drink a day?”
This is probably one of the most important questions I ask each person.
Nine out of ten students do not drink enough. Some of them know it, but most of them don’t.
I show them my “dry sponge analogy.”
I pull out my totally flat/dry sponge which is so hard and rigid that it won’t bend.
Then, I show them the hydrated one that I have dipped into water. It bends freely — up and down, side to side, in and out.
You see…
If you are dehydrated, your muscles are working against you, not with you. They are trying to hold onto whatever little amount of hydration they may have to survive.
Our skeletal muscles are composed of:
>> 75% Water
>> 20% Protein
>> 1-10% Fat
>> 1% Glycogen
Think about it…
Three quarters of the human body is water!
Every cell, muscle, organ in our body needs it to function and survive.
Without us even knowing it…
Our bodies are constantly losing water/hydration all throughout the day because of the function of the 4 “ations”:
1. Exhalation
2. Urination
3. Perspiration
4. Defecation
Bottom Line: If we are not consciously replacing what you are losing, we are unconsciously dehydrating!
Dehydration occurs when more water and fluids leave the body than enter in!
I want to share a skit that I am known to perform several times a year for my stretch class students that explains the unconscious dehydration process really well.
My skit is called “Connie’s Cups.”
I take nine 24 oz. cups in 3 separate stacks. I write a day of the week on 3 cups, then repeat for the remaining six cups. So, I’ll write “Wednesday” on 3 cups, “Thursday” on 3 cups, and “Friday” on 3 cups.
The average person is recommended to drink at least 64 oz. (8 x 8 oz. glasses) of water each day. These 9 cups represent this daily recommendation.
So, let’s say that on Wednesday, you only drink 2 of the cups. That leaves you with one left over, which I then move to the Thursday stack.
That means that on Thursday, you have 4 cups to consume in order to make up for the 1 cup that you missed on Wednesday.
But let’s say you only consume 2 cups on Thursday, meaning you have 2 left over that move to the Friday stack of cups.
Now you have 5 cups to consume on Friday to make up for the 2 missed on Wednesday and Thursday…
I am sure you get my point….
It is a great visual for you to see how fast and easy it is to get dehydrated — and not even realize it!
Take my skit on for more days of the week, then weeks, then months, then years of not getting enough fluid back into our body each day.
Research shows that many illnesses, diseases, and health issues are contributed to dehydration.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:
>> About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluid a day for men
>> About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluid a day for women
These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages, fruits and vegetables. About 20% of daily fluid intake comes from food.
Think about this and you will definitely be drinking more water…
Hydration not only enhances the function of our muscular system, but our organ system, nervous system and, just as important, our elimination system.
Hydration helps to carry nutrition and oxygen to every cell and gathers toxins help them exit our body.
So, if your worry is that if you drink more water, you will be making more and more trips to the potty… think of that as a good thing!
You are detoxifying your body.
And here is even more good news: the more you drink and the more hydrated you become, the more your system will absorb what you are putting in, so your potty breaks should become less frequent over time.
And even more good news:
When we are hydrated properly, our entire body functions at a higher level. Hydration also promotes weight loss!
Finally, here is what you have been waiting for….
The Stretching Connection to Hydration:
>> A hydrated muscle has more pliability, which means it can work and move with greater ease. (Remember my “dry sponge” analogy.)
>> Our muscles act as pumps moving body fluid, blood, and oxygen through the body. Tight/dehydrated muscles are not effective pumps and therefore slow down this process. This can lead to many health issues.
>> When we stretch muscle tissue, it creates pathways where all of the above can flow with more ease.
So… CHEERS!!!!!!!
Drink up, people.
You have nothing to lose except a few pounds and a lot of toxic waste!
Stretch of the Day:
Doorway Stretch
This stretch will open the shoulder girdle, chest cavity, and help improve posture. Make it a habit throughout your day to take a few seconds to “fall” through a doorway.
1. Stand about a foot away from any doorway.
2. Place palms of hands with fingers facing up on the molding edge of the doorway at shoulder level.
3. Allow your body to “fall” into the doorway only as far as you feel a good stretch.
4. Hold for 10-15 seconds and repeat one more time.
These are a Few of My Favorite Things:
Watch the sunrise!
If you haven’t gotten up lately to watch it, I highly recommend you do!
These days, the entire sky turns an incredible pink color with the most beautiful orange ball of sun in the middle.
There is amazing power and energy in the sun as it rises.
Go outside with your favorite morning beverage. Listen to the sound of the birds as they awaken also with the sun. It is an incredible connection with nature.
It is a great way to start your day and IT IS FREE for everyone.
Quote to Ponder:
“Be a fountain, not a drain.”
— Rex Hudler
