Spinal thought 242. Many people try to stretch their hamstrings by putting one foot up on a barre or a table and then lean over to touch the toes. If they are very flexible already and can lean over without pulling the head back and crunching their guts, that probably fine. However, most people try to do this and proceed to contract down the front of the body, crunching their internal organs and pull their head back on the neck. So they may get some stretch in the hamstrings but a lot of tension and discomfort elsewhere. I have an alternative way that is more about gravity and passive stretching. You still need to put one foot up on a raised level; it could be a barre, a table, a stool or a chair. How high depends on how tight your hamstrings are and how free your hip joints are. Basically you need to be able to stand with easy poise as you put your foot up. Now continue to stay poised, keeping the spine in easy upright alignment, head, neck and face relaxed on top and instead of leaning forward over your leg, you only have to bend the knee of the standing leg, thereby lowering your body and creating a stretch on the hamstrings of the raised leg. No need to over-do, bounce – just slowly go down and allow the stretch to work through gently and then come up slowly again. Repeat with the other leg. (I sometimes do this while I’m on the phone.)
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:55:03 +0000
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