Question for People who Stretch post workouts

[Lynn M.]

Hi all..

OK, I have a confession to make.. I don't do a very good job of stretching post workouts.. Usually because I run out of time and that is the first thing that goes for me in my regimen.

Well, I 've decided that its time to make stretching a bigger priority and so I've been faithfully doing it after working out almost everyday for a few weeks now.

Typically, I strength train one bodypart/day and then also do some cardio. My current "stretch" plan is to stretch the bodypart worked that day plus some general leg stretching.

My question to you avid stretchers.. do you switch up your stretch routine like you do your general exercise program or do you do the same stretches everytime? If you switch it up, how often do you switch?

PS.. I do have stretchmax, but honestly, I am not sure I want to commit that much time to stretching per week.

Thanks in advance, Lynn M.

 

[RunninTeach]

Lynn,

I usually do a 5 minute or so stretch of my own design (mostly yoga postures that I have found over the years give me the best stretch), with an emphasis on the muscles worked the hardest in that particular workout.

I used to blow off stretching when time-crunched, too, but unfortunately, it did not bode well for me as I was hill running 5x a week at the time. It led to a nasty case of AT that put me outta commish for awhile. Lesson learned the hard way for me!

I now do a longer yoga or stretch routine on my rest day.

[font face="heather" font color=black size=+2]~Cathy[/font]

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/runninteach/exercise/th_skiing.gif

 

[Beavs]

Michele has highly recommended Classical Stretch. A copy of one of the DVDs is on it's way to me. You might want to give it a try.

 

[cheval]

I try to make sure and get a 5 minute stretch in after every workout. Even when Cathe's are a little on the short side, I'll add in a couple extra stretches to round out the time. Since I'm doing all sorts of different videos, there are different stretches involved.

Once a week, I do a Stretch Max segment. It really makes a lot of difference. Keeps me from tightening up too much since the tightness becomes cumulative for me. I usually chose the band segment since it's my favorite, but it depends on my mood which one I chose.

April

 

[SRP]

I need to stretch. I just don't have a choice - otherwise, my muscles tighten up, leading to all sorts of discomfort, including tension headaches.

So - a short stretch for me is 10 minutes. If I'm crunched for time, I try to get a quick overall stretch. Otherwise, I really like to do about 25 to 30 minutes. I have my own routine right now using basic athletic stretches and some of the non-pretzel yoga. I pretty much follow the same routine. But if something needs extra stretching, I'll focus on it a bit more.

I've also ordered the athletic stretch workout from Classical Stretch. It hasn't arrived yet, though.

 

[Lynn M.]

Thanks all for the tips and ideas...

I do have to admit that my recovery time is quite a bit shorter now then when I wasn't stretching at all. ( esp. after a hard leg day).

...hmmm, maybe there IS something to this stuff?


Take care and thanks again, Lynn M.

 

[kathryn]

I usually do the stretches that come on workouts, and sometimes add in others if I think the instructor skimps (which happens far to often on DVD, IMO).

My best stretching, IMO, was when I was power walking this past summer, and I did a variety of lower body stretches (especially) and upper body stretches and held them for a full count of 20-25 (20 on a 'slow count' day, 25 on a 'fast count' day!)

I do think that a longer stretch routine, done 1-3 times per week is beneficial, especially as we get older, or if we do a lot of strength work or other things that tend to make the muscles tight. (for example, I think kettlebell training incorporated enough stretching within the movements to not require as much specific stretching).

 

[Lynn M.]

Thanks Kathryn for the reply...

Since I have been pretty faithful these last couple of weeks to stretching post workouts, my next step I think will be to incorporate a longer stretch routine in at least 1x/week.

I am encouraged by the results I am seeing by adding the stretching.. already my lower body seems to recover so much more quickly after working it hard when I've stretched it out. It really is worth the extra time to do it.

Take care, Lynn M.

 

[dorothyrd]

2007 has been my year to add Yoga. Since last January I have done an hour of yoga twice a week, and I really like how it helps with the aches and pain. Then in October, I started tacking on Stretch Max at least 4 times a week, and man do I feel better. Yes, it takes extra time and at first I kept wanting to quit early and get busy with my day, but now I find myself looking forward to it, and my body feels so much better.

 

[story1267]

Lynn, thanks for asking this timely question. I've been wondering the same thing myself.

I picked up Power Yoga: Flexibility with Rodney Yee since I had a gift card to Borders (plus I don't mind looking at Mr. Yee }( ). I have one of the Classical Stretch from the library plus a few others that I ordered from different libraries. I'm thinking about ordering the whole Classical Stretch (with the money I save from not being brave enough to do STS).

Glad to hear about your results and I'll be interested to see how things go once I limber up a little bit.

 

[Sunshine 1528]

I used to turn off the DVD before stretches too but now, as the bod has aged quite a bit, I'll FF through the last part of the workout to make sure I get my stretch in if I am in a time crunch.

Or, when lifting, make sure I pause and stretch in between segments so I can make it through.

Am working on the 12 week challenge and Stretch Max is on my list for my rest day.

 

[lederr]

classical stretch for athletes by miranda esmonde is by far the best stretching dvd i have ever done. miranda is kinda quirky and a bit annoying, but IT WORKS!

i have also heard people talking about a dvd called "magically hips" or something like that.