Delve into the Benefits: Increased flexibility

There are many yoga postures and exercises designed to increase your flexibility. Let's start off with defining what exactly flexibility is. According to Wikipedia, flexibility is defined as: "The distance of motion of a joint, which may be increased by stretching." Yoga is all about stretching so your chances of improving your flexibility while practicing is huge! Your flexible body will be much less prone to injuries because it can endure more physical stress. Think of your body like this slinky - The appeal of a toy slinky is that it can bend in all ways and to move from one point to the next without breaking and in unusual ways. Same can go for your body - If you train it and stretch it over time, your body can bend forwards, backwards and in all directions! Basically, yoga and flexibility go hand in hand. If, however, you experience discomfort during your stretching exercises, keep in mind this is a normal feeling. The more you practice and stretch those muscles, the easier it will get and the more results you will see. Another reason you have soreness while stretching can simply be because you haven't stretched that particular muscle group in a few months. Practice makes perfect! The soreness should fade away over time.  If you notice severe pain, this usually indicates an injury has occured. Torn tissues, metabolic accumulation and muscle spasms are only a few causes of muscular soreness and pain. I would suggest first finding the exact cause of your pain and then deciding if you SHOULD be stretching them at all.

Watch the below video for great stretching exercises! Happy stretching!