A limber body is a healthy body.

Stretching is often done in class following a light warm up. Instructors and class assistants make sure to work the muscles to prevent injury during the rest of the workout, so the student can progress without hindrance of unnecessary injury. Most of the time this is a great formula, the student gets the workout, gains some flexibility and remains uninjured. But we cannot leave stretching behind when we leave the studio. Bruce Lee would stretch up to 18 times a day at his physical peak to remain supple and even more agile.... now I don't expect anyone to follow suit religiously, but the addition of stretching to your daily regimen will have an immense benefit.

By setting a time to stretch out during the day you are not only preventing yourself from useless injury in day to day doings, but also increasing circulation, relieving tension caused by stress and also getting some one on one time to focus on yourself.... a daily meditation, if you will. It's as Sifu Jason Wong always says "A limber body is a healthy body."

Depending on how serious you stretch will be seen in your flexibility, more focus on stretching and keeping a strict regimen could help you achieve splits, but even with the smallest addition of light stretching to your day the results will be felt! Movement will become coordinated and graceful, aches and pains will reduce, stress will also be dissolved... now who wouldn't want that!