Need "delicate" help re: adductor stretching

[Merrida]

Preface: Disregarding those of us who are not body-shy or self-conscious doing various exercises or stretches that can make some people feel "vulnerable," -- I need some help from you guys regarding the other aspect of the population.

Some exercises and stretches, we all know, can make (primarily women, it would seem) very self-conscious about performing them. Sometimes, as I understand the "why" or "what" that makes them uncomfortable, it's a simple matter to address. But for many others, it's merely they feel exposed, vulnerable, or embarassed, and regretably this leads to either noncompliance with performing certain exercises or stretches, or trying to seek out abandoned corners to perform in.

In particular I'm hoping you guys can help me out with addressing adductor stretching issues....static, stretches they can perform (in the gym, not in the privacy of their home), and PNF or facilitated stretches.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on how to address/include/present adductor stretches that for the self-conscious person, may not be as formidable? I'd like to preserve the integrity of natural hip alignment so plane changing hamstring stretches is not up on my list. Even if I have them facing a wall, the positions to stretch the adductors (whether I'm talking longus or brevis, as both can put the client in vulnerable body positions),...that discomfort arises,...

I don't want them to avoid these stretches,...I can't account for them if they tell me, "I'll just do them at home,"....and I can spend 10 minutes trying to search out for some vacant abstract unoccupied corner of the gym,...but it does not address the issue, nor does it help facilitate continuity and compliance.

Any help? Suggestions? Recommendations?

I'm sincerely lost here.

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[westside24]

Originally Posted by Merrida

I'd like to preserve the integrity of natural hip alignment so plane changing hamstring stretches is not up on my list. Even if I have them facing a wall, the positions to stretch the adductors (whether I'm talking longus or brevis, as both can put the client in vulnerable body positions),...that discomfort arises,.
.

well I dont understand what you mean by that, caz I dont know what the hell longus or brevis is haha. an dIm sure you thought of this, but... Butterfly stretches like what runners do, how about splits (with progression obviously, caz I dont know too many people who can do them right off the bat) thats what they do for dancers ballerinas, all kinds of stuff. also I like to do spiderman walks.... I have no video of them but I can explain.

You get down in a pushup stance, pull one leg as far foward as possible, esting your foot around where your elbow is, still maintaining the pushup form, and very slowly crawl foward and repeat with other side...

Merrida, you write you eloquently. When I read your writing it is like music to my ears.

So if I understand this correctly, are you are talking about the self-conscious woman who doesn't want to showcase a beaver shot of her camel toe?

I'm sorry I have no specific recommendations.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by pierini

Merrida, you write you eloquently. When I read your writing it is like music to my ears.

So if I understand this correctly, are you are talking about the self-conscious woman who doesn't want to showcase a beaver shot of her camel toe?

I'm sorry I have no specific recommendations.

lmao! Im not so smart, so I didnt understand the music, Tell her to wear sweatpants, or MCHammer Pants or something not so tight if that is the case.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by pierini

Merrida, you write you eloquently. When I read your writing it is like music to my ears.

So if I understand this correctly, are you are talking about the self-conscious woman who doesn't want to showcase a beaver shot of her camel toe?

I'm sorry I have no specific recommendations.

This is probably why I'm so gosh darned fond of you Mr. P. You just jump right in there and say it how it is.

So well yeah there's that,....

But, even without a camel toe or beaver shots (oh be still my heart forever with Sharon Stone,....ooohbabybaby!).......

...............where was I?.....................

Oh yeah,.....Sharon Stone's beaver......

So like I was saying, in addition to that, there's the awkwardness of the actual positioning itself,...not merely the potential of gawkers (which frankly never really happens, I think everyone at the gym is mostly concerned with how THEY look that no one else is really giving anyone else a 2nd peek,....unless of course the peek-er is peek-ing at a peek-ee who is sporting a wild set of jugs, then who blames 'em?)

Come on, Mr. P.,....surely you can dig into your vivid and expansive imagination, excise the beaver and camel toe/knuckle visions, and reveal what's left. If there's nothing left,....then I'm a little worried about you.

.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by pierini

Merrida, you write you eloquently. When I read your writing it is like music to my ears.

Let me guess,......music eh? Somewhere along the lines of thrash metal?

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[westside24]

so my suggestions suck huh... or I was prolly way off target to what you were asking haha... I do that alot.

[Sophie]

what about these?

http://exrx.net/Stretches/HipAdducto...SideLunge.html

http://exrx.net/Stretches/HipAdducto...roinFloor.html

http://exrx.net/Stretches/HipAdductors/SideLunge.html

[Merrida]

This is going to be tricky no matter how I approach it,....the questions re: stretches apply to several different women, different types/ages/conditions of women, and all with varying degrees of self-conscious. I'm beginning to think this is just going to be an interesting challege, regardless.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

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[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by westside24

so my suggestions suck huh... or I was prolly way off target to what you were asking haha... I do that alot.

Westside you are completely correct in what you say. Maybe these women should stop going to the meat market to workout. What the heck do they expect!

Suck it up baby and take a lesson from the men. Ditch the thong, put on some comfy clothes and stretch away. Leaving the ego at home will go a long way for all types of self- consciousness. There`s a time and a place to show off. Just ask these gals are they here to work out or or they here to put on a cat show?

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by CF-OC_gal

Westside you are completely correct in what you say. Maybe these women should stop going to the meat market to workout. What the heck do they expect!

Suck it up baby and take a lesson from the men. Ditch the thong, put on some comfy clothes and stretch away. Leaving the ego at home will go a long way for all types of self- consciousness. There`s a time and a place to show off. Just ask these gals are they here to work out or or they here to put on a cat show?

Man Brat, I could not have said it better!

Putting aside the thong-wearing, perfume-deluged, jewelry-adorned, make-up caked chicks at the gym for whatever it is they do,....I don't work with those gals.

I have found that women of many sorts have this discomfort. The most prominent is when a woman is depressed (being treated for clinical depression), if she has not yet had a child (let's face it, after childbirth, you lose all sense of shyness),...or women who are overweight and self-conscious.

The other area would be men (I have 3 men who I really need to work on their adductors and two are difficult for me). Here are my predicaments:

1) The women: The ones that I'm having the hardest time with are overweight. (I can work around the others). There are only so many corners I can bring them into. I know a number of adductor stretches but they all make these women feel terribly exposed, but I do NOT want them doing them at home, I WANT them and NEED them to do them when we're together and their bodies are warm. Help me with these ladies?

2) Of the men I work with who need facilitated adductor stretching, when doing PNF or any type of facilitation, my position in proximity to them can be rather tenuous depending on how professional THEY feel about what I'm doing. It's not an issue for me, but if I can sense their discomfort, -- here I come to DF to ask for help. One guy is 6'4" and that makes my positioning with him a tad akward. The other man is only around 5'8" and that makes me kneeling which again, puts me in an awkward position, so to speak.

Granted the men care less than the women, but I don't want to give up on them (not in my nature to give up on what I know is important).

So I figure I'll reactivate this thread and see if I get any bites or nibbles.

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[CF-OC_gal]

Hey, Crap, I got in under my old - new name!!! I almost submitted and resurrected brat since you guys like it so much.

This is just too funny a thread.

1st - shhsh! childbirth didn't make me or anyone I know more comfortable spreading my legs in public jeez, like all the mommys wanna do is lay loose or something. I disagree with that generalization totally. Did your childbirthing experience change you in those ways Ms M.?

Re - fat chicks and psycho clients. If they truely are uncomfortable then hell, take them to a corner or behind a barrier You are one on one aren't you? Take them and a mat to the damn change room if you have to! How hard is that! If that is still too complicated then tell them that they will have to suck it up and suffer if they expect help because life is like that some times.

RE- men. MY recent hip therapy with ART, Physio and also recent Olympic coaching have all required hands on contact and postural correction, sometimes in uncomfortable proximity to my girly parts. The professional approach which each and every person has used has been to first tell me what they are doing and why, where they need to go to be effective and finally that if I am in anyway uncomfortable with them then to tell them to stop. Sometimes it is something as simple as rolling up a shirt tail to see 2" of my back during a motion. There is no surprise and no assumption of free access just because they are doing "their job". Dignity and respect abound.

[Merrida]

Sorry chicky, I can't help myself,....I'm just so attached to Brat. I'll try harder (sort of).

A certain amount of dignity is pushed aside when you birth your kids, and one thing I've noticed universally is not necessarily the desire to lay spread eagle, but for one thing, moms are a lot "less" self-conscious and seldom do I have issues with them. It's just another movement and not related to anything but the stretch at hand.

You also are dead on about asking, and not taking for granted a touch policy. I've honored that constantly. What really made me pee my pants though was when at one of our "club endorsed" lectures, the trainer giving the lecture "recommended" (no, didn't suggest, but recommended) we always just touch our clients and not be afraid to do so, often. (He also had no neck and wore too much bling and used a half bottle of nasty cologne).

Regardless, one thing I've always adhered to is asking permission and explaining what I'm doing and why. And you're right, often that does the trick -- showing respect to the person, to their space, and often people just need to know the what's and why's and they're cool.

That works for me in virtually all situations.

These few oddities (I'm being polite, work with me here) are in the minority. One woman broke down in tears because she felt "so exposed" (with her bum towards the wall?).....

So it's finding that gentle yet firm way to tell them to suck it up.

Yep, Brat, gotta love ya!

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[CF-OC_gal]

Like I suggested, take them to the change room then.

[westside24]

The ones that I'm having the hardest time with are overweight. (I can work around the others). There are only so many corners I can bring them into. I know a number of adductor stretches but they all make these women feel terribly exposed,

One woman broke down in tears because she felt "so exposed" (with her bum towards the wall?).....

And then did they go running out of the gym with thier hands in the air yelling like someone was attacking them! lol...
sorry, it sounds like you have a lot of people who have O.C.D. or are just not willing to do what it takes to get to their goals...
This is very unfortunate for them because im guessing you have the experience to help them reach those goals, but they wont cooperate, which is also a bummer to you, because then theres time wasted you could be helping someone else reach their goals!