You Mean Stretching?

[mr potatohead]

My own testimony (not that I'm a BB'er beefcake example of resistance exercise) is that I include a lot of stretching, isometrics, twisting and flexing under tension, or that includes tension, in my exercises and I like it, I like it a lot, cuz it makes me feel SO GOOD!

I'm just guessing here, but I would estimate that I spend at least 3x as much of my exercise time in stretching under tension as I do in resistance exercise - which includes stretches also.
In other words, stretching is not, necessarily, a separate thing from the other exercises that I do.
Some of it is during the strength exercise and some is afterward, but all includes tension.

Not a relaxation stretch.
For that, I take a hot bath in Epsom salts.

[Deleted]

30m basement stretch. The usual stuff.

The “usual stuff” is general mobility work, dynamic and static stretching, a little yoga, and rehab/prehab stuff. I’ll include things like grip, neck, and abs. I’m consistent with this and it is extremely rare to miss a day. Usually 15-30 minutes.

But logging it here, I need to be a little more descriptive than just “30m stretch”. Which is the point. Writing it down makes me pause and think about it a little. Might get an insight that way.

Today was:
* dynamic leg swings front
* “traction” for both legs, with blue band -  Included tibias statics (good suggestion Mike)
* ulnar flossing
* hartzels - did not loop the band on the ball of the foot to minimize calf
* a little front split work
* bow pose
* down dog -not great on the calf
* more hartzels

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2023 16:36:19 GMT mr potatohead said:

My own testimony (not that I'm a BB'er beefcake example of resistance exercise) is that I include a lot of stretching, isometrics, twisting and flexing under tension, or that includes tension, in my exercises and I like it, I like it a lot, cuz it makes me feel SO GOOD!

I'm just guessing here, but I would estimate that I spend at least 3x as much of my exercise time in stretching under tension as I do in resistance exercise - which includes stretches also.
In other words, stretching is not, necessarily, a separate thing from the other exercises that I do.
Some of it is during the strength exercise and some is afterward, but all includes tension.

Not a relaxation stretch.
For that, I take a hot bath in Epsom salts.

Thanks for the video link and comments Mr Potatohead. Much appreciated. We're on the same page. Often people think of flexibility training as passive and gentle, but the key is (as you said) TENSION and strength to allow the body to go beyond that point it is holding back on.

Today's workout above was more a recovery day which I really need when I play a lot of tennis. What I want to do is start adding 2 HARD flexibility days a week. For now I'm just talking about it though . Something has to give in schedule and the logical thing to cut back to allow for harder stretching would be tennis. My strength training is minimal and where I want it, and the hard flexibility stuff would be an extension of that. We'll see how that goes.

[Deleted]

3/14/23 Had to stop tennis after 45m due to the calf. Time for a tennis break to let it actually heal. Dummy.


30m stretch later in the day. Tried hard not to aggravate my calf, but managed to do so anyway, just getting off the floor at the end.
* flossing
* grippers
* theraband
* band pullaparts
* small band finger extension
* hartzels
* bow/camel

[jonrock]

Mar 13, 2023 16:36:19 GMT mr potatohead said:

My own testimony (not that I'm a BB'er beefcake example of resistance exercise) is that I include a lot of stretching, isometrics, twisting and flexing under tension, or that includes tension, in my exercises and I like it, I like it a lot, cuz it makes me feel SO GOOD!

I'm just guessing here, but I would estimate that I spend at least 3x as much of my exercise time in stretching under tension as I do in resistance exercise - which includes stretches also.
In other words, stretching is not, necessarily, a separate thing from the other exercises that I do.
Some of it is during the strength exercise and some is afterward, but all includes tension.

Not a relaxation stretch.
For that, I take a hot bath in Epsom salts.

Active stretching, which really means controlling your muscles (under tension) to move in a given range, with time, said range extends naturally, as opposed to forcing the muscles and the delicate structures of the articulations trying to stretch your body where it cannot get without resorting to external forces.

[Deleted]

3/15/23  25m stretch w/pushups & band rows.

3/16/23 Just easy stretching today.  Ended up getting in a pretty good 45m stretch later in the day - pancakes, hartzels, band curls, laterals, triceps. Just good and deep work.

Nothing exciting on the horizon until this calf heals. This (calf) strain is pretty common in tennis players, and the consensus is STAY OFF IT UNTIL IT HEALS.

Easier said than done, but I've committed to rest, and  have let my tennis partners know I'm out for a while.

I will probably go to the gym to get in a whole body workout in a day or so. Once I am not limping like Chester.

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2023 16:36:19 GMT mr potatohead said:

In other words, stretching is not, necessarily, a separate thing from the other exercises that I do.
Some of it is during the strength exercise and some is afterward, but all includes tension.

Just reread this . This sums it up perfectly. 

[Deleted]

3/17/23 Morning 30m stretch w/wallsit, squat, band short range deadlift. Another 15m stretch in the afternoon.

[mr potatohead]

I wonder who drove yogalete away?
Hmmmm, who could it be?

[diewaiting]

Yogalete is now diewaiting. Not sure what drove me away . Internet is love/hate with me.

But I am still reading here, still stretching, playing tennis, and doing my simple strength training.

[diewaiting]

Tennis today - not matchplay, drills and rallying. Cardio! Stretched after.