6 Tips on Stretching and 5 Reasons Why. Stretching is first and foremost in any exercise program. Actually it should be the first and last activity in whatever exercise program you do. Stretching prepares your muscles for a more rigorous exercise activity. Stretching also helps elongate your muscles getting them ready for a more intense workout. It prepares your joints for the workout as well, and helps prevent muscle cramps during and after the workout. There are many different forms of stretching exercises. You should strive to learn as many as possible so that you can vary your stretching exercises from one workout to the next and hopefully you won’t become bored and lose interest. If you do stretching exercises before and after each workout, you will begin to realize the tremendous benefits, and how it makes you feel. Understand why it is very important to stretch before and after any and every type of physical fitness exercise. Learn how to stretch and properly warm up. This is a FREE PDF article that can be read on any computer. Reply with the e-mail address you would like the article sent to and it will be on the way in 24 hours and there’s absolutely no obligation.