​You can improve your health and wellbeing by adding some simple stretches to your daily routine. Stretching relaxes your muscles and can increase blood flow to the rest of your body.

A few of the many benefits of stretching are:

Improve stamina
Improve flexibility
Strengthen your posture
Increases energy levels
Lowers your risk of injury
Releases stress (very important)
Improves blood circulation
Reduces soreness
Improves physical performance

And, of course, there are many, many more benefits. The whole point is that you have to keep moving and some simple stretches can help get you on your way….and improve your day!

Start slow and don't push it. Pain is not the goal here. Just starting with an easy relaxed forward bend is a great start. Just raise your hands in the air and breathe in and as you exhale fold forward, bending at the hips and just relax. Let your arms hang down and then grab your elbows and let your head hang down. It doesn't matter if you can or can't touch the floor or your toes. The point is to relax and let your body sink into it. Breathe and relax. Release the tension and let your head go towards the floor. When you are ready to come up raise your arms out to the side and stand up. Be careful if get light-headed after bending. I personally practice yoga every day and get lots of stretching in the poses.

Take care of yourself. As a travel nurse or professional healthcare traveler you need to take care of yourself so that you may give your patients the care they are entitled to. Stress is a real killer in our fast paced society and some simple stretching can help you release some of that stress, improve your health and your wellbeing.

Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network