Do you ever wish that you could turn back your biological clock by ten years or so? Do you wake up with weird pains that you didn’t have when you were younger? Wouldn’t it be great if there was some magical pill that you could take and instantly feel 25 again?

Unfortunately, that technology does not exist, yet. However, what we DO have can help you feel younger, more active, and even more alive. It’s actually been around as a practice since the 18th century. What the heck are we talking about? Stretching!

Unlike the theoretical magical pill, the long-term benefits of stretching don’t happen overnight.

Have you ever heard the phrase “you can’t eat the fruit the day you plant the seed?” Well, that describes stretching perfectly.

Fact: Those who stretch for 15 to 20 minutes a day have less pain, manage stress better, and see doctors less often.

Following a stretch routine every day will improve your flexibility, increase blood flow to your muscles, relieve stress, improve your athletic ability, increase your energy levels, improve your posture, and slowly help to heal any muscle or joint pain you may be experiencing.

"A lot of people don't understand that stretching has to happen on a regular basis. It should be daily," says David Nolan, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

The following is an excerpt from Dr. Chris’ digital eBook version of his bestselling “Stretching for Fitness, Health, and Performance.”

1. Warm-up

Before you stretch, your muscles should be warm. An efficient warm-up can include marching, walking in place while swinging your arms, taking a warm shower, or mimicking the sport you are about to do (e.g., for squash: swing the racquet, twist the torso, and lunge). The warmup increases the muscle temperature, which increases blood flow to the tissue. The muscle fibers can then respond more quickly and efficiently to the stretch. From a practical perspective, doing the Daily Stretch Routine in the shower is the best time to do your stretches. It is easy to remember, becomes part of a habit, and therefore is something that you can see immediate results from.

2. Be Gentle

Do not force a muscle to stretch. All you should feel is a gentle pull in the muscle. It should take approximately 6-10 seconds for the internal muscle-protective mechanism to adapt to the new position. Then the nervous system will allow the muscle fibers to relax and change their length. In the next 20-24 seconds, you should notice a gradual decrease in the pulling sensation. At the end of 30 seconds, you should feel almost no pulling sensation. If you still feel something, you are stretching too far, which can result in a sore and stiff muscle. Simply ease back to the point or position where you feel virtually nothing in order to allow the muscle to adapt to its new length. The "no pain, no gain" theory does not apply to stretching.

3. Hold for 30 Seconds

Current research shows that a stretch must be held for at least 30 seconds. If you cannot hold the stretch comfortably for this long, then ease back. Anything less than 30 seconds will not give the nerves enough tune to adapt to the new length and alter the muscle tone. Only one repetition per muscle is required when done daily. However, if you notice that a muscle on one side is tighter than the same muscle on the other side, you may want to stretch it 2-4 times to fully relax it. Ultimately, you want symmetry.

4. Breathe

Deep, rhythmic, abdominal breathing helps to improve circulation to muscle tissues. This enhances nutrient flow (especially calcium and magnesium) to muscle fibers. Breathing also is meditative and helps you relax. Holding your breath will make the stretch ineffective.

5. Do Not Bounce

Bouncing, or ballistic stretching stresses the joints, ligaments, and muscles. It also triggers the protective stretch mechanism within the muscle to reflexively contract. As a result, the muscles cannot relax or stretch. Always stretch slowly and gently.

6. Stretch Both Sides

Always stretch the right and left sides (or the front and back) of an area to maintain balance and symmetry. This will enhance flexibility and performance while reducing the risk of injury. Pay attention to your muscles. If the muscle you stretch responds quickly, you can assume it is healthy and does not require much work. If it is stiff and does not move easily, you may need to repeat the stretch until it relaxes. Learn to "listen" to the muscle's response to the stretch so that you will learn more about your inherent blueprint.