We all know that we should stretch, but many people have trouble doing it. That’s probably because there are so many stretches, and so many ways to go about it. In this post I will talk about a “routine”, or rather, a way of approaching the whole stretching issue, that will solve this problem for you.
The main idea
The idea is very simple: choose a limb and a joint on this limb, and put said limb on the floor. Now, while keeping the joint you chose, and the part of the limb from the joint to the end of the limb on the floor, make this floor-bound part make a full turn. Explore what sections of this turn are easier, which ones are more challenging. Observe what this makes the rest of your body do.
Just keep in mind that the closer the joint you chose to your torso, the more challenging this will be. Start with the wrist or the ankle, and progress towards the torso slowly and carefully.
Take it further
This is a very simple idea, but you can take it further in several ways. For instance, you can choose to focus on a part of the circle, or even on a particular angle, like you see me do in this video.
You can also choose to keep the limb on the floor fixed, and evolve around it. This will lead you to exploring more movement, and new angles. In turn, that means that you will stretch more muscles in more ways.
Once making the turn is easy, just lower your body in a few different ways to the floor. This will put more stretch in some positions, and open a bigger area of discovery, play, and targeted stretching.
Aknowledgment
I learned this idea from Bernd Reicheneder from movnatmuenchen.de during a MovNat workshop.
Continue reading: Your First Steps Towards Hip Flexibility, Superpower Your Flexibility Training, Step by Step Guide to Breathing Meditation.
Want more like this?
Check out the following blogs from massage therapists I know from around London:- On The Run Health and Fitness on running, nutrition and sports massage.
- The Soma Room on sports massage and exercise.
