stretching/flexibility
 

does anyone know what can be done to make oneself more flexible,
ie if i try and touch my toes (ok, except for the gut that's in the way)
the back of the knee, is tight, it won't stretch and it fecking hurts

Isn't it something to do with keep trying and eventually you'll get down there? :D

Pretty much, more stretching and eventually you'll get there :)

Well many years ago i did Tae-Kwondo, and we used to Stretch a lot, make sure you are really warmed up and i dont mean a little bit of jogging on the spot - i'd say a good 15 minutes of strenuous exercise and make sure the blood is really pumping.

do your stretches i'd say every other day, and try and push down, then relax then do it again and try to do a little more each time, it will take time but you will get there. I was the least supple person in my club yet after time (as fat as i am) i could kick the tops of door frames and sat down i could rest my head on my knees.

Ah the good old days.:)

What are you trying to achieve: active or passive flexibility? Passive flexibility refers to people that can do the splits, etc. Active flexibility is people that can move their limbs through a wide range of motion without the add of gravity (i.e kick above their head). If you want to be able to kick above your head then you need to work on active flexibility more than passive, but if you just want to be bendy then there is little need to train for active flexibility.

Properly stretching to increase your range of motion is like any other exercise – you should warm up and cool down, etc. Warming up before exercise is advice most people just ignore but that’s usually because they want to get stuck into a game of football, etc. If you start pulling your muscles out of shape when they are cold you’ll regret it!!

Look up stretching positions that’ll stretch the muscles you want to work. Slowly move into position and stretch to the point of discomfort. NOT pain! Just the point where you have moved ‘just’ out of your comfort zone with regards to range of moment. Do not bounce or make any sharp moves. Hold that position for 15-30 seconds breathing deeply and slowly. Try to close your eyes and relax and will your muscle to stretch that little more. If you can safely push it a few millimetres more then do so and hold for a while longer. If I recall the muscle itself isn’t the key limiting factor (as it’s quite stretchy) but there is a nerve that controls how far it’ll allow a muscle to stretch before it contracts that muscle to protect it. This is why you can use relaxation techniques to stretch further and you teach your body to let go a little.

Repeat the process a few times and remember to work off the muscle when you are between stretches (i.e. move it a little, shake it off, get some blood through it).

I do some in the bathroom in the morning, nothing too vigourous but it helps, we have a family trait of not being very flexible so need to keep on top of it, doesnt half force out some demons though !

Dont bounce!

You dirty *******... we all know what you're trying to do ;)

Does your wife know your bashing the totem pole when your sitting on the bog?vigorous or not, more than two shakes is classed as a wnak :thumb:



DJ Vinyl Ritchie.............to the thread starter.......just remove a rib,it will save you a lot of time :thumb:

so what type of stretching??