I would guess that most of you think that when you stretch that you are stretching your muscles and tendons.
The last few entries of this blog were relating to the "tennis ball trick". The tennis ball trick works by releasing the tension in your connective tissue, your fascia. There is, however, another type of stretch which we will explore today. Stand up. Stretch your arms out from your sides so that your arms are shoulder height. Your palms should be facing the floor. (Your body should be forming a "T" shape.) Now bend the wrist of your hand so that the fingers are pointing up towards the ceiling. Don't move anything else. Do you feel a stretch through your arm? It may feel strong through the fore arm and wrist. Keep this position and now tilt (side-bend) your head towards your left shoulder. Does this increase the stretch? Keeping your head tilted towards your left shoulder, straighten your right wrist so your right palm is once again facing the floor. Keep this position and now tilt (side-bend) your head towards your left shoulder. Does this increase the stretch? Keeping your head tilted towards your left shoulder, straighten your right wrist so your right palm is once again facing the floor. How does the stretch feel now? Has the feeling of a stretch disappeared? Repeat the whole exercise on the left side. Is there any difference between your left and right sides? What has been stretched in this exercise? Come back tomorrow to find out!
2 Comments
23/8/2012 07:12:08 am
I did this stretch while reading hot to do it, omg I felt it. It was a good hurt.
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elizabeth hughes
24/8/2012 03:25:24 am
Hi Eleanor, Sounds like you might have tightness in your arms/forearms. Standing up, facing a table, place your hands on the table, palms down. Lean forward into your palms and at the same time straighten your fingers. If you find this a strong stretch, this is an indication that your forearm muscles are tight. Keep working on the stretch. (There is a stronger variation of this if you find it helpful.)
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AuthorElizabeth Hughes, mobile massage therapist/bodyworker based near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK Archives
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