Why Do We Stretch in the Morning?

Humans (and our pets) frequently instinctively stretch as soon as we wake up. But why? What is happening in our bodies when we stretch and yawn to wake ourselves up?

Hosted by: Hank Green
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[OfTheCoast]

save you the 2 minutes and 34 seconds. We stretch to get blood flowing and to get our heart rate up

[RainAngel]

This morning, when my alarm went off, I stretched into such a comfortable position, I slept for another 8 minutes.

[Funnymoney]

Roses are red
Violets are blue
jokes on you I wake up at 2

[dawnwayfinder]

What causes the skin beneath our eyes to darken when we don't get enough sleep?

[xmaddiejanex]

"Many people lie in the same position for most of the night" WOOP NOT ME!!! *wakes up diagonal and upside down*

[joolzzenda]

pandiculate is an awesome word :) I need to find ways to slip it into conversation

[ksubswithnovid]

You, the One Reading this, Hope you have a Wonderful Day

[jugzster]

Seeing Hank instantly makes me smile. Love the lively way he presents😀

[shpongloidia]

What about slapping around the morning wood?

[niccyknickers]

Stretching also affects your myofascial layer, reducing the 'fuzz' and allowing better movement. Please look into this more. It is a really interesting part of the body!!

[TacetCat]

Pandiculate might be one of my new favorite words, right up there with indeed and stoichiometry.

[Aelffwynn]

Watching Hank stretch at the beginning made me stretch. It was like yawning-- I couldn't help it.

[patrickbourne]

I love that word pandiculating. "I was doing my morning pandiculating"

[jovax]

How many times did you pandiculate while watching this? Twice for me

[Shindai]

Stretching is called pandiculating after the Latin word pandere, meaning to stretch... then ... just call it stretching :P

[twicey]

When my hamsters pandeculate its the most adorable thing ever !😍

[sean]

I just realized i dont pandiculate in the morning. I just lay in bed until the very last moment before its too late and so i get up rush to get my clothes on and brush my teeth then i leave the house.

[SlaphappyCOC]

Something rises in the morning and it's not the sun....

[agentwashingtub]

What's the first thing I do in the morning? Slap that snooze button like an unwanted child.



#YIAYMorning

[jbox]

This is such an interesting instinct. It's beautiful.