Stretching benefits your body in more ways than one, and its importance is too often overlooked. Stretching keeps your body flexible, healthy and strong. When you aren’t doing regular stretches, your joints stiffen. Your muscles tighten and shorten when you do not stretch, which makes them very susceptible to damage or injury when you engage in strenuous activity. If you don’t have time to stretch every muscle each day, try to concentrate on at least one important muscle group each time, like your lower extremities. If you consistently stretch your muscles and trust the process, you will achieve healthier, more flexible muscles to hold up your whole body.