Here's Why You Instinctively Stretch When You Wake Up - Thrillist
Maybe your like
- News
It's the first thing most people do in the morning. You roll over, stretch your arms over your head, and give a good yawn. Then you move toward coffee or Facebook or sniffing your armpits to decide if it's a shower day or whatever it is that you do next.
But why does that stretch come so instinctively? And why does it feel so good? Well, Sci Show has an answer. It's called pandiculating. It's the act of stretch and yawning at the same time, usually right when you wake up in the morning. Cats and dogs do it too, and there's good reason for it.
That full-body stretch wakes your muscles. Your brain may be awake (even if it doesn't feel that way), but your muscles have been inert through most of the night and need a good stretch to get going. Stretching loosens and realigns the muscles. It also helps circulation, getting your blood flowing after your heart spent the night moving a little slower than it does during your waking hours.
Both stretching and yawning are stress relievers as well, making your morning pandiculation a bit of a booster shot to get your day moving in the right direction.
Get even more details on why you and your cat are giving a good stretch to put your best foot forward in Sci Show's video above.
Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Dustin Nelson is a News Writer with Thrillist. He's a big fan of pandiculation. Follow him @dlukenelson.By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.SubscribeSubscribe to Thrillist DailyAdventure is always around the corner. And now it’s also in your inbox!SubscribeBy signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.Tag » Why Do We Stretch When Tired
-
Wake Up And Stretch: The Top Benefits Of Stretching In The Morning
-
Why Do People Stretch When They're Tired? - Quora
-
Why Do We Stretch When We Wake Up? - BBC Science Focus Magazine
-
Why Do We Stretch When We're Tired At Night And When We Wake Up ...
-
Why Do We Instinctively Stretch When We Wake Up? - The Swaddle
-
Why Does Stretching And Yawning After Waking Up Feel So Pleasant?
-
The Benefits Of Stretching And Why It Feels Good - Healthline
-
What's The Purpose Of Stretching And Why Do We Do It? - Healthline
-
6 Morning Stretches That Are Perfect To Wake Up Your Tired Muscles
-
10 Stretches To Do Before Bed To Improve Your Sleep - HSS
-
Why Do We Stretch Involuntarily? | Sarasota Magazine
-
Why Do We Yawn When We Are Tired? And Why Does It Seem To Be ...
-
Why Do We Stretch In The Morning? - YouTube
-
Why Do I Yawn? (for Kids) - Nemours KidsHealth