JoAnna Gregg is a runner. But she knows every now and then she should slow it down and stretch it out.

JoAnna said, "I don't stretch as much as I should."

Many of us don't either.

JoAnna said, "A lot of people come to the gym because they want the benefits of just the workout. You know, it's like, 'I'm going to burn the calories, I'm going to build the muscle.'"

"But we forget that we have to keep our muscles flexible," said Group Fitness Instructor Laura Schwartz.

Laura says stretching has its benefits.

She told us, 'It's going to make the muscles have a better range of motion through any kind of activity - just daily activities: walking; bending; picking up things; sitting at a desk. It's going to make those muscles a lot more pliable - a lot more easy to move."

She says stretching also helps prevent injury, improves your circulation and helps your balance. In the end, it just makes you stronger for your next workout.

"You're going to feel more apt to come in the next day and do another workout whereas if you didn't do that stretching, you're going to be sore, " said Schwartz.

So when you exercise, fitness instructors say you should always save the last 10 to 15 minutes for stretching. They say it's good for your mind and your body.

The deep breaths and long stretches relax your body and release stress.

JoAnna said, "It almost just feels like my workout was stronger."

Stronger and definitely worth the time.