At Village Gym we have a huge variety of different fitness classes. From classes more suitable to beginners to classes designed for fitness fanatics, we are proud to have a little bit of everything for our members. 

Today, we’ll cover the classes we offer that double up as stretching classes for those who want to improve their range of motion and flexibility.

Let’s begin!

Types of Stretch Class

Before we delve into the different options to consider for improving your flexibility, we need to briefly discuss the different types of stretching you can do.

Static Stretching

This type of stretching involves holding a pose or a stretch in one fixed position - usually for a designated amount of time. This type of stretching is great for increasing your flexibility but also for promoting muscle relaxation. It is ideal for getting rid of muscle tightness and soreness after a workout.

Static stretches:

• Involve little to no movement after the stretch position is reached.

• Increase flexibility

• Promote relaxation in the body

Some examples are:

• Hamstring stretching

• Holding a deep lunge

• Leg splits

Dynamic Stretching

This type of stretching involves movement and will have you moving certain body parts in a controlled and continuous motion. This will help improve your range of motion for various body parts and is usually used before a workout.

Dynamic stretches:

• Involve movement of the body part your stretching

• Improve your range of motion

• Stimulate blood flow in your body

Some examples are:

• Leg kicks or swings

• Arm swings or circles

• Jump lunges

Yoga as a Stretching Class

Across our various locations up and down the nation we offer a variety of Yoga classes including:

• Hatha Yoga. These classes are better suited to beginners and they teach basic Yoga poses and stretches. Think slow, balanced poses and postures that rely more on static stretching.

• Vinyasa Yoga. These classes are more upbeat and quicker paced. While they are beginner friendly, they may be a bit more challenging for those that have never worked out before. These classes use a combination of static and dynamic stretches.

• Ashtanga Yoga. These types of Yoga classes are for more experienced practitioners and will require a more developed level of fitness. This type of yoga focuses more on dynamic stretches (but does use static stretching too).

All these types of yoga classes are fantastic options for those who want to not only improve their flexibility and range of motion, but also for those who want to:

• Improve their posture.

• Improve their balance.

• Increase lung capacity through controlled breathing.

• Reduce anxiety or stress through controlled breathing and mindfulness.

• Get back into fitness after an injury.

• Improve blood circulation

For those that want to focus more on static stretching, Yoga is ideal.

Tai Chi as a Stretch Class

Village Gym are proud to provide Tai Chi classes up and down the country, which are also a stellar choice for those wanting to get their stretch on. 

Tai Chi has its origins as a Chinese Martial Art and is often described as meditation in motion. It involves a lot of slow, graceful movements that have the added bonus of stretching various muscle groups and body parts.

Aside from the benefits Tai Chi can have on your flexibility and range of motion, it also helps:

• Improve your muscle strength through movements that improve your functional strength

• Improve your coordination and balance

• Promote stress and anxiety reduction

• Improve lung capacity through controlled breathing (like in yoga)

• Improve your overall posture

• Tone your muscle groups to accomplish a leaner body shape

But Tai Chi isn’t just one style. Much like Yoga, there are various styles that you can practise. At Village Gym locations we provide:

• Yang style Tai Chi; a great class for beginners that involved slow movements.

• Wu style Tai Chi; this style favours the use of micro movements to tone and improve specific muscles.

• Chen style Tai Chi; this style focuses on a mix of slow movements and quick transitions. This also incorporates squats, punching, and kicking.

• Sun style Tai Chi; very similar to Chen style with similar movements, just less physically demanding. This makes it a popular choice among beginners and seniors.

• Hao style Tai Chi; this style focuses on the improvement of posture and strength via body positioning.

For those looking for more dynamic stretching in their class of choice, Tai Chi is a superb choice.

Reach Your Goals with Village Gym

Village Gym are proud to help people strive towards their fitness goals with our state-of-the-art equipment, expert advice from our in-house seasoned professionals, and our variety of classes available at locations up and down the UK.

Browse our various membership options today and take your first or next step in your fitness journey with us.

FAQs About Stretching Classes

What is the best class for stretching?

There are a variety of options depending on where you are on your fitness journey. However, for beginners, we recommend our Hatha Yoga class or Yang style Tai Chi. Both are excellent options for newcomers wanting to improve their flexibility and range of motion.

Is 30 minutes of stretching a day enough?

While stretching can be time consuming, the benefits far outweigh the time it takes to stretch correctly. 30 minutes is a decent amount of time for stretching. If you are pressed for time, basic stretching for 5-10 minutes every day is still helpful.

How often should I stretch?

Ideally, whether you are active or not, you should aim to stretch 2-3 times a week. If you are active, you should also stretch before and after your workouts.

What are the hardest muscles to stretch?

Due to their location in the body and how complex their structure is, the Gluteals are considered one of the hardest muscles/muscle groups to stretch. The Gluteals include the Gluteus Minimus, Medius and Maximus.

Is it better to stretch in the morning or at night?

Ideally, you should aim to stretch before and after sleep - so in the morning and at night if possible (even for a short duration). Stretching in the morning can help you reduce body stiffness after resting and get you ready for the day. Stretching at night can help promote body relaxation and can improve the quality of sleep you’ll have.