Daily Stretching Thread

Charley started this discussion · 9/27/2009

😀 Let's be accountable to ourselves and each other and encourage each other to stretch. Flexibility not only looks awesome - we all know that, but it's so helpful with injury prevention. SO...today I stretched about half hour/40 mins did: downward dog 1min or so pigeon both sides 5 minutes each back to down ward dog, sat in lunge on yoga/pilates blockes each side 5 mintues sat propped with blocks in side splits about 10 mins sat in V forward leaning, 2-3 mins - position is hard to hold downward dog a couple mins and came into a standing forward fold for about 3-4 mins. also sat in butterfly for 3-4 mins not too long again not too cozy in this.

20 replies

joni1 · 9/27/2009
I too have been doing daily stretches using stacy nemour splits and flexibility dvd for 30-45 min for about a month now. I went from 19 inches to 17 inches closer to the ground in my side splits. I measured myself against the wall. But the big difference I noticed is in my hamstring flexibility. When I did the chopper before, my legs would never straightened. 😈 It was always bend at knees because of my tight hamstrings. Now they are perfectly straight. 🥂 My favourite daily stretch is down ward dog. butterfly V sit against the wall 1 leg straight behind and other leg bend in a square, sit then lean down into it.
MochaKat · 9/28/2009
What is the V sit against the wall ❓
MissJinx07 · 9/28/2009
I usually stretch every other day!! I like to do the V sit holding left leg then right then middle. Also, sit with both feet in front of me and hold the bottom of my feet. Both are good for warming up for splits! We always did these in cheerleading 🙂
Charley · 9/29/2009
Took yesterday off but I did stretch today same regiment as always. 25 mins or so
joni1 · 9/29/2009
Hi pp, the V sit against the wall is a great stretch for opening up the inner thighs. Start by putting your bum as close as possible against the wall. Then lye down looking up at the ceiling. Put both legs up straight against the wall open as wide as you can in a V position. Let gravity do its job. Slowly opening and widening more with your legs. Hold it for as long as you can. A friend of mine who is a yoga/pilate instructor said put a song on and hold this position for the entire song. Then 2 songs the second week and so on till you can watch an entire 30 min show on tv with this move. She said it really helps with getting into the splits faster. It's so hard to stretch today cuz I worked a 12 hr. shift at Sick kids hospital . I pretty much ran all day ,so there is my pre stretch warm up. Each time I go to the washroom, I try to do some bending and touching my toes stretches as well as other stretches i can do until someone bags on the door. 😳
FreeTheSun · 9/29/2009
You guys are so good. I keep telling myself I'll stretch today and then I always do it mentally but never physically. Tomorrow is my goal. I get off work at 8am (yes am, I get there at 4:30a for my short shift) so I'll be up and will have little excuse not to... 😜 I like the idea of that v stretch. My inner thighs are pretty tight. Too much treading water while teaching swimming and not enough stretching. That will have to be one I do tomorrow. Great idea for a thread btw. It's making me feel guilter than normal for not stretching so I'll be more likely to do it. 😀
p1nkpr1ncess · 9/29/2009
This is a good idea! I did 20-25 mins stretching yesterday after the gym, I don't know names of stretches but I've been following a "set" that we do at our classes every week. I try to stretch every other day - every day if I get the chance. I am already noticing the improvement in my front/back flexibility but my side splits just don't get easier. I am going to try the V Stretch against the wall tonight as I think that might help with my inside thighs - they feel so tight! I'm going to aim for another 20-30 mins tonight I think 🙂 -x-
Charley · 9/29/2009
I am waiting for Veena to weigh in on this, but sometimes it's not possible to get all the stretches in, in one session. For those of us without a lot of time I am wondering if we would get just as much out of our stretching if we split it up like 15 mins in the morning, another 15 minutes later in the day and 15 mins before bed?
MochaKat · 9/29/2009
Thanks joni1 for the description of the v sit on the wall. I will try that. Its funny u said that about the bathroom cause I do the same thing 😂 I do squats and leg lifts at the sink now I can add stretching LOL Yesterday I stretched 30-40mins it felt good to be finally doing it and not just talking about it.
Layla Duvay · 9/29/2009
Yeah, I've been working on stretching too for the last couple of years. Just doing the S Factor workout 3 X weekly gave me a really good start. Then I saw Veena's splits stretches on YouTube and added that to S F and got my scissor splits back. Then I injured my hip flexor (bloody leg lifts!) and my physio gave me some stretches and now my left leg scissor split is almost to the ground. Sideways splits are still an issue. Then I saw Candy and Chrome's (I think) interview with Felix about her regimen and I read through it and thought, "yeah, I can do that" until I came to the part where it says to do it 3X a day! 😲 What? No can do! I have a job and a life! Three times a day? Hmmm....maybe when I retire.... 😎 Still, I've incorporated all of the stretches into a 40 min. routine that I do daily an hour after supper. I do a fifteen minute brisk warm up and then all her stretches for 30+ seconds twice through plus a couple of total-body stretches on the pole and I've noticed increased joint mobility and less "crunchiness" in my muscles during the day. Since I've turned 47 and three quarters, I've noticed that stretching makes a HUGE difference in my flow and fluidity. Fortunately, I love stretching. If you could build strength that way, I'd be Bev Francis!
Veena · 9/29/2009
Great thread Charley BTW.... Today will be day 3 of stretching in a row, I have never made it past 3 times in a row since before Henry was born. 💣 My focus is on middle splits (I"m soooooo close) haven't done them since I was under the age of 10. I am also working on hamstrings and back. 🤓
miss fern · 9/30/2009
Okay so I haven't get a routine sorted yet, but that will come I hope. I wanna get serious about this! Awesome thread. Today I did: - Butterfly stretch for 10 minutes. Left knee got about 1.5 inch improvement over that time. Right knee did not drop noticeably 🙁 - Forward splits both sides for about 2 mins each, on a bed. Manage to get my front leg all the way to ground at the end of the stretch, but back leg still crooked at knee - Forward fold (touching toes) - my aim was to get palms flat on the floor but after 1.5 minutes I stopped - Sitting with one leg straight, other tucked and leaning forward to touch extended leg. Did this 4-5 mins each side. Got a good stretch, about an inch or so improvement by the end - Did some basic quads stretches and arm/shoulder stretches - Lay in frog pose on bed for about 3 mins. Nearly got hips to touch the bed, with my feet apart (I find this easier than toes together, is that right?) All in all about 35-40 mins.
p1nkpr1ncess · 9/30/2009
What I have noticed with my stretching is that my hamstrings are holding me back - what type of stretches could I do for this? My dad runs a lot and he has tight hamstrigns - surely it can't be heredetory? I didn't get chance to stretch yesterday as only had a quick gym session but I will be stretching after pole class later - do you think I will be ok to stretch after the gym at lunch time aswell? Twice in 1 day? -x-
pole-twista · 9/30/2009
oh i think this is a great idea! i dont stretch nearly enough , but i did go from not being able to do a split at all, to being able to split (only w left leg leading) with lots of warming up and stretching, to now i can literally climb the pole and do a drop split without warming up (not recommended, but obviously i have greatly increased my flexibility) i loove the idea of encouraging easch other on this.. really need a good stretching dvd. will spend alot more time on it than if totally on my own. thanks for this thread! ❗ ☀️ ➡️ 💡 💣
Veena · 9/30/2009
What I have noticed with my stretching is that my hamstrings are holding me back - what type of stretches could I do for this? My dad runs a lot and he has tight hamstrigns - surely it can't be heredetory? I didn't get chance to stretch yesterday as only had a quick gym session but I will be stretching after pole class later - do you think I will be ok to stretch after the gym at lunch time aswell? Twice in 1 day? -x- It CAN be hereditary.....its all your dads fault, JK don't blame him. 😂 Yes you can stretch 2 times a day....but always warm up first otherwise it wont be effective. Check out this thread for a few hamstring and hip stretches. https://www.studioveena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1786
p1nkpr1ncess · 9/30/2009
Haha I already told him off when I saw him at the gym (he works there) - told him my hamstrings have been cursed with his genes lol. Luckily he didn't take it personally! I will persevere and hopefully it won't be heredetory and this time next year I'll be doing lovely splits! Lol. I'm really glad that you said stretching twice a day is ok as I went ahead and did 20 mins of stretching at the gym. I do enjoy stretching once I've started it! 🙂 Of ALL the dvds which would everyone recommend if I were to get one for stretching? It is always better when you have someone to lead you. -x-
poledanceromance · 9/30/2009
I practiced until I couldn't hold myself up yesterday. How deep should I stretch out today? I kept my cooldown stretches on the lighter side yesterday because I really did overdo it a bit and didn't want to overstretch.
Charley · 10/1/2009
I stretched yesterday a half hour or so and will ofcourse be doing stretches today since I teach. Am sticking with my routine of pigeon, sitting on blocks in lunge position and sitting in straddle (there are more, forward fold sitting/standing, butterfly, happy baby, frog, etc.) As far as stretching when you are sore, you still need to be warmed up. SO it's not good to work so hard in one day that you are super sore because your muscles will be tighter. I know it's hard not to over practice since pole is so addictive but be careful. I'd suggest a nice soak in epson salt and light stretching, don't stretch deep and try to hold them for a super long time (I usually hold my poses 3-5 minutes.) Take it easy on your self 😀
poledanceromance · 10/2/2009
Oh, my kingdom for a bathtub! 😂 I have the world's teeniest, tiniest, cruddiest shower stall of all time. Renter's plight hehe. I live in a first floor apt. in a really old house, and ith a lot of the old houses in my neighborhood, all the first floor bathrooms were added on when the house was split to apts. The result? Can't find a place close to school with a decent bathroom.
miss fern · 10/4/2009
My udate: I last posted here on Wed so 4 or 5 days ago. Since then I have stretched 3 of those days for minimum 20 mins. Mostly focusing on my legs and hips. I think the swan pose I do for the muscle that runs along the outside of your thigh (from your butt to your knee) is slowly working, YAY! Also I foudn doing forward folds are much easier when m legs are open very wide (as far as I can straddle), as oppose to when my legs are just open in a comfortable V. I think this is because the former is mostly a groin stretch while the latter is groin AND hammies. Seems hammies are definitely the culprit! I also suspected this since I work and study in I.T. Lol! I spend about 10 hours a day sitting down! Yikes! Sitting in butterfly stretch for 10 mins at a time is still not helping my right knee much, but it does budge about 1 or 2 cm after that time.