Monday, January 7, 2013

Just Bend in Half and Tie Your Laces

When I started working on my flexibility, I could not touch my toes. If I had to sit with my feet straight out in front of me it required propping myself up with my arms so I could lean back. Yeah I did really poorly on that stupid hamstring stretch in high school too. That one with the weird half-box wooden contraption you have to push the slider on as you stretch forward. Point is, hamstring flexibility is one of my big goals.

As you know, the only reason I did start flexy training was for pole. I honestly thought I could stretch religiously for a month or two and BAM! I'd be able to slide into a perfect split. I imagined myself bending my back in a loop around the pole and executing amazing, figure-skating-esque spins and translating what I love about that sport into pole. Boy was I wrong--apart from leg flexy training doing little for back flexy--training for the splits can be hard work.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Bought Extra Long Legwarmers!

I'm excited, so excited!

I just bought a pair of 36" leg warmers!!!
This is a flexy big deal, no kidding!!!

Who knew it would be so hard to find leg warmers 33" but not 40"+? Seriously, you wouldn't believe how far I dug into Google. My legs are only 33" long (yep, I measured). They're going to be so perfect. ❤ I really needed some stretching gear, and these are going to be so 80's hot on me. Plus I wear a lot of skirts and it is bone-chillingly cold out here in MN so I can wear them ALL the time!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

PNF Time! Part 2: Basics

In my research on PNF since PNF Time! Part 1 I was surprised by a couple of things.  As it turns out PNF Stretching is not what it seems.
It is not a unique type of stretching and is not, after all, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. Or at least it didn't start out that way. It was developed to treat stroke patients and is more accurately called Post-Isometric Relaxation.

Then what is PNF??