Strrrreeeettttching

[MTG35]

Do you stretch? If so what is your routine...how do you go about it?

I'm finding myself to be very inflexible (can't even touch my toes with straight legs) and have started to work on but it goes so slow I never seem to see progress.

[luke.w]

I start most of my sessions with overhead squats (streches the whole body), also some light front squatting to get the wrists nice a flexy seems to be a good thing also, like doing a clean and just going down into the front squat.

On recovery days I like to do bridges from time to time (I usually do neck bridges as these give a better strech in the low-back)

[standAPART]

I advise all my athletes and clients to perform some sort of dynamic flexibility drills and mobility drills 5-10 minutes prior to lifting. Those drills consist of:

burpees X10
Quadruped Hip rocking x 8
Quadruped Cat stretch x 8 (heavy breaths)
Hindu squats x10
Inchworms x8
Spidermans x10

[Dan C]

John,
besides burpees and hindu squats, I have not heard of those stretches before. Can you explain them please?

[Dan C]

I usually prefer to do my static stretching after my workout, or on off days I'll do yoga (though I've been slacking on that lately). I actually find myself doing most of my stretching in the living room while watching TV.

Pavel has got a good book on stretching called "Relax into Stretch" and it's more of an aggressive type of stretching, like an advanced form of PNF, where basically you contract the muscles you are stretching until "failure" and then allow yourself to ease deeper into the stretch. You're actually trying to strengthen the muscles in the stretched position, he calls it "forced relaxation" Good book, I highly recommend it.

[standAPART]

They are hard to find pics for...I will locate them in my videos and post them here later in the day.

In the mean time, I perform some of them here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lEkCGjhtwY

No matter how tired I am, I faithfully stretch my lower body after all running workouts. Stretching is also a standard warm-up in karate training.

I do not devote much time to upper body stretching though.

[Firehawk]

I stretch when i yawn, that's about it

[CF-OC_gal]

I stretch before and after cardio workouts and after or between sets with weights.

That is some fancy footwork you display Mr. Standapart!

[standAPART]

Thanks...I still have some moves from the ol' playing days.

..Just call me John

[CF-OC_gal]

I thought you looked built like a football player, is that what you are referring to John?

[Dan C]

Originally Posted by Firehawk

I stretch when i yawn, that's about it

That's not something to brag about. I realize you're just being funny, but it's foolish for a weightlifter or athlete not to stretch.

[gymgirl]

Originally Posted by pierini

No matter how tired I am, I faithfully stretch my lower body after all running workouts.

I do not devote much time to upper body stretching though.

me too. i warm up with a 3-5 min walk on the treadmill, then i stop and do a light stretch for a few minutes before i begin my run. after running like pierini, i spend about 10-15 minutes stretching my legs and back. i too have been trying to devote more time to stretching my upperbody.

[MTG35]

How long before results should be noticeable?

I have been stretching 2 to 3 times a week and I try to hold each stretch for 30 seconds. Its only been 3 weeks so far.