the one thing that annoys me about long holds, is that i don't really think they should even be "holds". maybe i'm naive but, most of these ROMs we struggle with, seems like there shouldn't be any resistive tension. ie, as if the limb should just be able to get into that position and feel loose and relaxed.
ie here i am relaxing slowly into this "stretch", that shouldn't even be a stretch. should just be able to put my limb in that position and that's it.
trying to figure some of that stuff out.
perplexing.
repost:
regarding the long stretch sessions: i've always liked them, but sometimes have gotten wrecked by them - so it turns out being a love/hate relationship. i'm starting to learn how to do them more safely.
but it also reminds me of that Goggins interview. he just felt so bound up, that he couldn't take it anymore, and started stretching for 2-6 hours etc. until finally he "unwound himself". i've felt similar for a long time.
i get very frustrated when i just make a "normal movement" and I feel so much tightness or literally tweak/strain something. it pisses me off beyond belief. trying to see if I can truly improve my flexibility/mobility for once.
I love this. Reminds me of the old Pavel relax into stretch where he would tell us pathetic Westerners that we didn't have the patience for long stretching that would yield incredible results lol. Also more recently Kit Laughlin has stuff on relaxed stretching that is along the same lines. Slow, relaxed stretching, keeping the belly relaxed, taking your time and never putting the body in any dangerous position.
yea! the "belly" is very important. i've found that if i'm breathing too rapidly, then i am not at all relaxed into the stretch.. i absolutely have to be breathing like normal, for me to be performing a "long hold" safely. if i'm not settled in properly, in many of the positions, i can feel my stomach going in/out too much due to more rapid breathing. when i'm nice and relaxed, i can't even notice it.
so that seems to be a very important point.
and ya, it requires lots of patience. i think my "long hold failures" always happen when i get impatient. ie, trying to achieve a ROM too quickly (forcing the ROM a bit). if instead, i simply achieve the ROM naturally, not forcing it at all, it feels much safer and more effective. this is why my stretch sessions are pretty long right now.. if i give myself 10-15 minutes to stretch, the likelihood of rushing the stretch is very high. if i give myself an hour or so, i can really ease into it.
also, i do most of these sessions with only a "night light", ie dark room, before bed. so it's kind of relaxing and helps me release some tension before bed.
i've been wearing my ear plugs too.. so it's kind of a combined flexibility/meditation session. I guess stretching sessions should be more like meditation, especially if you're doing "long holds". some holds I do, are definitely up over 5 minutes etc.. especially the glute/hip/sacral spine ones. occasionally some hamstring ones too etc.
i'm doing a "leg drain" right now, which is kind of a light hold for the hamstrings. i'm at 45 minutes right now. legs are starting to finally "fight it", which means i should probably end the session. going to stretch in a bit.
He's had some incredible results. I love the piriformis and pancake stretches for this and can spend considerable time in each and feel incredible.
ya same. i can really stretch glutes/piriformis/hips hard. hamstrings are delicate, but i can stretch them for a while too if i acknowledge i won't achieve as much rom. quads are on-off, sometimes i can stretch them for a long time, sometimes they fight back. i don't stretch calves as much, been thinking about maybe hitting them a bit more.
If I spend too long in couch stretch though my hip flexors and quads are killing me afterwards.
i have a few like that too, mostly adductor/groin related.
even a few seconds in some groin stretches can wreck me.. which is why i'm trying to loosen up that area as well now. making some progress but that seems to be a big problem area.. probably a source of lots of issues.
I like the diet reset too. There's something magical about not bowing to hunger and eating on your own terms.
yea for sure. feels awesome once you regain control.
Gone are the days where I dream of getting huge and I would much prefer to be 5-8kgs lighter than where I currently am given how much less stress the body takes at that weight.
hah nice. do it (slowly, safely)
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