ottersocks
Forum Replies Created
-
Tickets are now on sale to USPDF members exclusively through Sept 27. Tickets and discount packages can be purchased, go to http://www.uspdf.com. Public sales start Sept 27.
-
It is going to be an amazing WEEKEND! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif
Poletential has things planned that are SO above and beyond past years. Minds are going to be blown, for sure. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif
Hotel block info is already up on our site, http://www.poletential.com We got some great deals that are going to go fast. USPDF will be announcing ticket sales VERY soon.
Can’t wait to see lots of Veeners in NorCal!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif -
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that Poletential has posted the first bit of info about the USPDF West weekend on our site, http://www.poletential.com As of now, all that’s there is the hotel info—but that’s important! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif
We’ve gotten some amazing discounted rates at some nice places, but they are first come first served. If you think you’re coming, book fast! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif
Ticket pricing/purchase and workshop info are soon to come. Workshops will be held on Nov 5, 6, and 7, to help you with your travel plans. SFO is the closest airport, SJC is also fairly close.
Poletential knows how to throw a party, so come join us! Keep your eye on our site for more info!
Ellen -
well, Fleur and I will be there together.
-
Congrats, honey! Amber speaks so highly of you. Just voted. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
-
Yeah, explanations are not his strong suit.
#3 is actually a press DOWN. You start in the up position, and then lower your body down as your arms provide resistance pushing against you. (So, your arms are trying to push to maintain you in the up position, but your body weight wins and lets you down.) If you think about trying to rotate your hands out as if you were waving to someone—but keep them where they are, just TRY to rotate them out so your arms are trying to rotate out from the shoulder but can’t–you’ll feel a deeper stretch in your chest. Once you hit bottom, just pop back up and start over.
#7 is a bit wacky. It is indeed like a downward dog, and in fact I do it in that position, hands on the ground. I lean forward so my head moves forward of my hands to start with, with my heels raised off the ground, then I press my hands into the mat to push me back into downward dog. I resist with my calves, slowly letting my heels go down, but resisting stretches the calves. The chest muscles also get stretched as you use your hands to pull your head forward of your hands to the starting position. The Ki Hara method I trained in considers this both a chest and calf stretch. (Just realized it’s his #7 on page 204 on the last series, elephant.)
I think the easiest variation on #11 is like the assisted version he has on page 178. Instead of having a person assist you, stand in a doorway with your arms up. Step through, as your arms press and resist trying to stop your forward motion. Great chest stretch!!
I’m glad these are helping you!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
-
Ottersocks! I don’t understand the resistance stretching concept! I mean how to do it or if I am doing it right? I have Bob Cooley’s book and I see the stretches and read the description but I have a problem contracting the muscles : ( Maybe it’s just a learning curve?
Hey brandx,
It can indeed be hard to figure out how to resist. Think about making a muscle with your bicep (=contracting the muscle). Now, imagine trying to hold that contraction while someone pulls your fist down and tries to straighten your arm. If you were to slowly let them pull your fist down (= let them "win"), you’d be getting a resistance stretch of your bicep.
So for example, when you are doing the central hamstring stretch (#9, page 104), your arms are pulling on your leg, but your leg is "winning" the battle to move. Your legs are of course much stronger than your arms, so you don’t need to contract your leg muscle as hard as you can, or your arms would never be able to provide resistance.And reenie is right, Joni’s hips are not square. To do a technically perfect split, you want them square. For me, I consider it "good enough for government work" that I can get down there, hips unsquare and all. Most stretching teachers will say the same–get there first, then continue to work on opening your hip flexors, psoas, and quads, so you can start to square your hips.
Hope this helps!
-
Ask away! You can also send me a video if you want me to take a look. Worst comes to worse, I can always make you a video. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif (You know ottersocks = Ellen Lovelace on FB, right?)
Your jade WILL be flat!!! -
Charley and Gerbil, the book is really useful, you just have to weed through the more metaphysical stuff. If you have any trouble understanding the stretches or how to resist, please do ask me. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
-
Yes, Dara’s DVD is very clear and labels all the muscles and movements very well. Totally different animal than Bob’s DVD. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
-
Yay Joni! So in the book energy series 1, do a lot of #1, 5, 6 seated, 9, 10, 13. There are other stretches for these same muscles on Dara’s DVD.
There’s lots I can’t really diagnose from a photo. But I can tell you balancing muscle groups are really key. So if your hip flexors are a problem, you want to spend a good bit of time stretching your central hammies. You also want to stretch the opposing muscle group (different concept than balancing), which is the adductor and groin muscles. Frequently by attacking other areas, you can make progress in the target. Dara’s DVD explains some of this fairly well. -
I am a resistance stretching trainer. Until I found resistance stretching, I made little progress towards splits using static stretching, holding for minutes, alternating sides…all the things mentioned here and learned from Alethea and other bendy people.
There are threads on here about resistance stretching. It’s similar to dynamic stretching or PNF, but different in that that contraction is never released–you contract the muscle through the entire range of motion. Check out The Genius of Flexibility by Bob Cooley (the book, not the DVD.) He’s a bit airy-fairy at times, but his principles are the basis for all resistance stretching. Also look at Dara Torres’ stretching DVD. She is stretched almost daily by the people who trained me.
I just turned 40. I got my front split after 2 months of solid resistance stretching. And I’m now closing in on middle splits, couple more months and I should be there. Stretching for the splits is much more than hammies. In fact, most people I see are restricted by their hip flexors, psoas, and weakness in the outer hip/glute area.
I can see from Joni’s picture that hip flexors are one issue here. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Good luck! -
It’s official! Saturday, November 6 at the Fox Theater in Redwood City. I hope to meet TONS of Veeners that weekend!! Yay!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
-
Cute idea!
Mine was stolen from my husband. It was his YT name, and one day I wanted to watch a video (waaaaaay back before I started poling), needed to sign in, and used his. Then I just kinda TOOK it!
As for how he came up with it….he has no idea, just thought it was cute. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif -
OK, I’ll check with her to see what your plans are. (….since I’m not good enough for you….sniff…..) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
