Hydrate, Hydrate and Hydrate

Let’s talk about water and flexibility. Being dehydrated sucks the water out of the cushioning used to keep your joints comfortable; causing stiffness and discomfort. Physical therapists can sometimes tell if your lacking water just by rubbing your skin. This is because of your fascia, the layer of fat connecting your skin to the muscle tissue beneath, becomes sticky when dehydrated. With enough water, your skin should glide along the underlying fascia.

Everyone and their Mom’s has heard about drinking 8 glasses of water a day, a feat easier said than done. I recommend getting a canteen to drink from as it’s personal and acts as a reminder. I prefer using one that’s see-through so I can tell how much water I’ve drunk and how much I’ve left to go. Hydration takes a couple of days to kick in but once it does, your mornings stretches will be a whole lot less creaky!