You might think flexibility is fixedeither you’re born with flexible limbs, or you’re not.
However, you might train your body to become more flexible; it just takes a little practice.
Most people assume that stretchingin a way that uses muscle to force other muscles to lengthenleads to flexibility.
What scientists and athletes now understand is that flexibility begins in your mind.
If your mind thinks it needs to defend against injury (or against you!)
it might do just that, bracing for impact and making you less flexible.
Instead, stay easy and calm, no force required.
Take a runner’s lunge for example.
Now, lean back, with your hands behind you.
Once you’re happy where you are, you have a good starting point.
Start by leaning back.
Take a moment and get used to things here.
Do the same thing on the left side.
Sometimes your knee will face straight up, sometimes to the right, sometimes to the left.
You want to let your body move naturally and do its own thing.
If you find a good spot to linger and breathe, that’s your spot.
Linger and breathe as long as you like.
Remember to breathe deeply.
Breathing can put your mind at ease and create the right conditions for your muscles to release tension.
When your body is relaxed, every breath can move you.
Let the stress go, andbreathe deep.
After all, as we mentioned, flexibility begins in the mind.
Avoid extreme positions.
Bending over backward to put your head in your behind isn’t likely to help you with much!
A healthy body holds a balance between stability and mobility, strength and flexibility.
Drop the goals, get into you.
We might reach the goal, but the outcome isn’t so good or healthy.
So explore: Move gently in every imaginable direction all around a forward fold.
See what you find.
It should be fun, not frustrating.
Move more, rather than pose more.
Take a standing forward bend as an example.
Rather than trying to get deeper and deeper into the bend, relax and move!
Put a little bend in your knees, and sway gently side to side.
If you’re looking for more flexibility, the key is moving more.
Widen your stance, so your body is more stable and ready to move.
Same thing on the other side.
Your focus should be on moving easily and comfortably all around where you are.
Remember: Sometimes where you are is where you better be.
Balance is a good thing.
Theres nothing wrong with you if you could’t touch your toes, for instance.
Here’s a video tutorial to help you get going.
Let’s get started togetherit’s going to be good.
