Stretching. A thread about (or in search of) stretches.
Former Member
I don't stretch at all, other than the odd ankle or arm stretch here and there. I suppose one of the reasons is because I haven't bothered yet to make it a routine and another reason is... I don't know very many stretches!
More and more I'm starting to hunch over and my shoulders are rolling forward. I caught myself in a distant profile reflection recently and noticed my neck seems to be protruding forwards. Surely I need to stretch my torso, especially as I develop more and more muscle in that area. Plus, my legs! At one point a few weeks ago they got ridiculously sore and my assistant coach told me I need to do every stretch for legs I know. But I don't know any!
There was a period earlier this year where my height (which I check religiously every morning, afternoon, and evening) was always about 6'2.5 halfway through the day... now I'm 6'2 barely a half an hour after I've gotten out of bed (after a full night's sleep, too). For someone as height-obsessed as I am, this is a disturbing downtrend. I'm thinking this might be explained by a combination of developing muscles and a huge deficit of stretching.
I don't have any meets coming up until after the New Year. This will be a good time to start stretching. Does anyone here have a routine stretching regimen? What kind of stretches do you do? What can you recommend to me?
Thanks in advance.
Complete Conditioning for Swimming, by David Salo and Scott Riewald. Book and DVD. I like it. Includes some pylometrics, although doesn't call them such. Uses some equipment for the conditioning (bands, medicine balls). Lots of bridges and such, which may be more strength.
Stretching, by Bob Anderson. I like it. Uses body weight and environmental props (broom, filing cabinet, chair, doorway). Quazillion copies in print.
Read FAF AFAP Leslie "The Fortress" Livingston's blog, do what she does.
Try a step class. That was really good for the legs and improved balance quickly. Mountain climbing - hiking and backpacking - will also do wonders.
The best for posture and leg stuff for me was figure skating. Gradually, I stood up straight.
:)
I have a stretching routine that I borrowed from Salo's Complete Conditioning For Swimmers that I do daily. It is really some basic stretching with a mix of core work. I feel great after I'm done and my flexibility has greatly improved.
Complete Conditioning for Swimming, by David Salo and Scott Riewald. Book and DVD. I like it. Includes some pylometrics, although doesn't call them such. Uses some equipment for the conditioning (bands, medicine balls). Lots of bridges and such, which may be more strength.
Stretching, by Bob Anderson. I like it. Uses body weight and environmental props (broom, filing cabinet, chair, doorway). Quazillion copies in print.
Read FAF AFAP Leslie "The Fortress" Livingston's blog, do what she does.
Try a step class. That was really good for the legs and improved balance quickly. Mountain climbing - hiking and backpacking - will also do wonders.
The best for posture and leg stuff for me was figure skating. Gradually, I stood up straight.
:)
I have a stretching routine that I borrowed from Salo's Complete Conditioning For Swimmers that I do daily. It is really some basic stretching with a mix of core work. I feel great after I'm done and my flexibility has greatly improved.
