Is stretching really all that important?

I personally think stretching is necessary to increase the flow of energy throughout the body, which has been reinforced in my recent experiences with yoga. In my opinion, stretching is also useful in reducing injuries as it allows you to start your exercise regime in a more flexible state. However, here is a recent story about some researcher who believe that stretching may be less useful in preventing injuries than many of us have been led to believe. This is a pretty revolutionary concept for most of us who have been in the exercise business, but there are still many benefits to stretching which we should all keep in mind as we strive for more complete fitness. Check out the story above for a list of the many benefits of stretching.