Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: info on stretching?

  1. #1
    Featured Member SCGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    783
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default info on stretching?

    ok, in several threads here, I've heard that people use several methods for relaxation and stretching. So many people have been telling me about the benefits they get from yoga/pilates/stretching etc, that I've decided that I'd really like to get back into it. I googled up the Alexander Technique (my body carries a LOT of excess tension--even my doctor said I have the most tense muscles she has EVER seen) and the Relax Into Stretch technique by Tsatsouline. That lead me to amazon.com and I was reading the reviews of Tsatsouline and one said that Kurz is better. Can anyone who is familiar with any of these methods tell me a little more about what is involved in them? I don't want to shell out big bucks on these overpriced books unless they are REALLY worth it.
    "You did then what you knew how to do; when you knew better, you did better" ~Maya Angelou

  2. #2
    alexislv
    Guest

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    I dont know about the ones you mentioned but with any stretching you have to keep doing it consistently to remain flexible. If you were flexible it will come back when you start stretching more (everyday) unless you have an injury or something.

  3. #3
    Featured Member SCGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    783
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    I don't really have any current "injuries" so to speak. I have flat feet, which although it sounds completely unrelated, is at the root of most of my physical problems. Having collapsable arches throws everything out of whack for me--it rolls my ankles in, doesn't allow my knees to line up properly, and leads to severe soreness in my hips and back. I worked really hard through physical therapy to correct as much of these as possible but that was a long time ago and I keep loosing mobility with time. I'm worried that without stretching, I'm going to end up like the tin man. RIght now, sitting with my legs straigt out in front of me is impossible without leaning back on my hands--which would be likely at age 70 but at 21 it's absurd!
    "You did then what you knew how to do; when you knew better, you did better" ~Maya Angelou

  4. #4
    Featured Member SCGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    783
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    *ripping my hair out*

    I can't trust ANY of the reviews on Amazon.com!!! I looked on Half.com to see if I could find some books on stretching for cheap, but I double-checked the reviews of those books on amazon. Nobody can agree though. The people who criticize Tsatsouline like Kurz....but then there are a bunch of people who hate the Kurz book...according to almost everyone, these books are overpriced, unorganized, bulky, and overly scientific or simple. I trust your personal opinions more (people on Amazon are all accusing each other of working for Tsatsouline or whomever else).

    I want to be able to do splits again (especially that oh-so-sexy middle split)......

    ....or maybe just touch my toes.....?
    "You did then what you knew how to do; when you knew better, you did better" ~Maya Angelou

  5. #5
    Member SusanV's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2003
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    59
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    I really like the Tsatsouline book, Relax Into Stretch. I'd like it better if it were $10 cheaper, but it does a great job of describing some very effective stretching techniques in a way that's easy to understand.

    I don't have the Kurz book, but from what I understand it's more technical, and some people find it confusing.
    I hate signatures, but I love irony.

  6. #6
    Featured Member SCGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    783
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    I went to Barnes and Noble today and did some "cheat" reading (I love going there and using it like a library! HA!!). They didn't have Kurz or Tsatsouline (everywhere seems to be out of stock of those two books) so I couldn't look at them and compare. BUT, I did find a REALLY good, simple book called "Full Body Flexibility" by Jay Blahnik. I don't know how the effects of this book would compare to the other two mentioned since I couldn't read what they were about, but this one seems very comprehensive and easy to use. On the bright side, it is pretty affordable at $18. Not too bad I guess. I might break down and buy it if I can't find anything better...just wish I knew exactly what the difference in approaches were (why would the other two give you better results).
    "You did then what you knew how to do; when you knew better, you did better" ~Maya Angelou

  7. #7
    Member SusanV's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2003
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    59
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    I don't know anything about Jay Blahnik's book, but I can tell you that the Tsatsouline book recommends techniques that are far different from (and more effective than) any stretches any of my volleyball coaches have ever recommended.

    The essence of the Tsatsouline method (and I think it's the same as Kurz) is that stretching isn't a matter of loosening up your muscles; it's a matter of training your nervous system. Your muscles are already loose enough to do the splits. You can tell this by standing on your left leg and putting your right leg all the way out to the side, and then switching legs. Each leg by itself can do the splits; you just can't do them together. But why not? There's not a single muscle that goes all the way from your right leg to your left leg -- so your inability to do the splits can't be anything in your muscles themselves.

    The answer is that our nervous system doesn't allow our bodies to get into vulnerable positions they may not be able to get out of -- like the splits. When both legs start to do the splits at the same time, your nervous system forces your muscles to contract, so they won't be able to go out any further. (When it's just one leg at a time, your nervous system doesn't force the muscle to contract.)

    So the trick to doing the splits (or gaining flexibility in any other stretch) is not to lenghthen your actual muscles, but to overcome the involuntary contraction response.

    Tsatsouline takes you through a series of techniques to do this; all of them include some kind of relaxation of the muscle, since the contraction response is subdued when your muscle is relaxed.

    The most basic way to stretch is just to take your muscle to the point of contraction (the place where it just starts to hurt) and to just try to relax it at that position until it doesn't hurt anymore. Then stretch it another inch or two and relax again; and so on.

    That's the most basic way, and a fairly traditional way, but it's not very effective compared to the more advanced techniques. Just trying to relax is nice, but there are a lot of little tricks to make it more effective.

    The first little trick involves muscle fatigue. When your muscle is tired, it will relax automatically. How do you make it fatigued? By tensing it for a couple seconds.

    Try it with a hamstring stretch. Stand up, keep your back totally straight, and start to bend forward at the hips until you feel your hamstrings tighten up. Now tense up your hamstrings as much as you can for about two seconds. As you un-tense (relax) them, you should immediately be able to bend a few inches more before you get to the point where they feel tight again. Now from this new position, tense up your hamstrings once more and repeat the process. You should get a few more inches. Keep doing it until you stop getting any extra inches out of it.

    Tsatsouline then adds some breathing techniques similar to yoga. Then a few more little "forced relaxation" tricks. And then the final two-thirds of the book focus on individual stretches (instead of general techniques).

    Overall, I think it's a very good book. The price of $35 seems steep for a 140-page paperback, but that's my only real complaint. The writing style is quite readable and the techniques really work. If you can find a used copy at half.com, it would be a good deal.
    I hate signatures, but I love irony.

  8. #8
    Featured Member SCGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    783
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    Oh wow....thanks so much Susan! That's more than anyone else has been able to tell me so far. Looked on half.com tho--no copies But I'll keep trying. Thanks again.
    "You did then what you knew how to do; when you knew better, you did better" ~Maya Angelou

  9. #9
    Member
    Joined
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    44
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    Quote Originally Posted by SusanV link=board=5;threadid=5849;start=msg64197#msg64197 date=1074453824
    The most basic way to stretch is just to take your muscle to the point of contraction (the place where it just starts to hurt) and to just try to relax it at that position until it doesn't hurt anymore. Then stretch it another inch or two and relax again; and so on.

    [snip]

    The first little trick involves muscle fatigue. When your muscle is tired, it will relax automatically. How do you make it fatigued? By tensing it for a couple seconds.

    Try it with a hamstring stretch. Stand up, keep your back totally straight, and start to bend forward at the hips until you feel your hamstrings tighten up. Now tense up your hamstrings as much as you can for about two seconds. As you un-tense (relax) them, you should immediately be able to bend a few inches more before you get to the point where they feel tight again. Now from this new position, tense up your hamstrings once more and repeat the process. You should get a few more inches. Keep doing it until you stop getting any extra inches out of it.

    I tried this yesterday (with my inner thighs) and today (with my inner thighs and hamstrings), and all I have to say is, wow!!! I was so impressed. I am terribly unflexible (or so I thought), and I was able to touch my nose to my knees! Give this a try if you haven't, ladies, I was amazed.

  10. #10
    Banned
    Joined
    May 2003
    Location
    CA.
    Posts
    929
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    SC , outside of the scientific benefits of stretching , the different philosophies and techniques -Rolfing, Feldenchrist, Reflexology pretty much depend upon your belief in them in reguards to stress.
    As I approach them I find myself asking, if I remove the dents from my car have I actually handled the mechanism that put them there?

  11. #11
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    I wonder if I could tone up a bit just by stretchin 10 min. every day. Any take on this. Not a whole lot of time to work out here.
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  12. #12
    Featured Member SCGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    783
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    As far as I know, you wouldn't "tone up" by stretching, you would just increase your flexibility and build up pliability in your muscles (which helps prevent injuries). If you want to tone without a lot of time, I would suggest pilates. On my book hunt in Barnes and Noble, I looked at book called "Lunch Break Pilates" or something like that. It gave a bunch of short pilates/yoga routines that you could do with very little space, props, and time. If you're looking to tone up, I would say take a look into something like that.
    "You did then what you knew how to do; when you knew better, you did better" ~Maya Angelou

  13. #13
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    Cool, thanks. Its just so hard to find time. The only free time I have I spend on this site. Thats so sad. But I do love it here.
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  14. #14
    God/dess Farrah_Holiday's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2003
    Location
    Waikiki, West Hollyhood
    Posts
    4,638
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts

    Default Re:info on stretching?

    I talked to my yoga instructor about a situation simular to yours.
    Number one don't worry about the age thing. My little brother is 14 and has the same problem as you.
    He suggested swimming, as it helps loosen the muscle and water excercise reduces tension and stress. Also try taking a hot shower to really loosen your muscle before you begin your daily stretches.
    And last but not least stand against the wall and try to touch your toes. The wall will help support your body. Do this everyday and you will see some improvement in your flexibility.
    My new love...is me !

    Even the greatest authority does not, ultimately, know you as you know yourself.
    Jhuka

    When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
    Maya Angelou


Similar Threads

  1. For those who don't like stretching
    By LuckyOne in forum Body Business
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 12-02-2007, 10:53 AM
  2. Stretching and warmups?
    By shane333 in forum Newbie Board
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-19-2007, 11:23 AM
  3. Labia Stretching
    By pariah in forum Body Business
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 08-20-2004, 10:44 PM
  4. proper stretching!
    By grace in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 08-15-2004, 09:02 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •