Something I hear often from my Stretch Therapy clients who exercise often or exercise with a Personal Trainer, is that they feel they need to stretch more.
Strength training is amazing, AND yes it does tighten up the Fascial network.
Like muscle, fascial tissue also has contractile properties. So as you exercise, the fascial tissues will stiffen to support your muscles in carrying out the loads.
So what to do when you enjoy hard workouts, and also want to achieve more flexibility?
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You want to Lubricate Your Tissues with a 5 min flow-like stretch.
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Free uncontrolled movements are the best, most effective way to quickly lubricate Fascial tissue. Particularly, I suggest focusing on the thoraco-lumbar region / mid-to-low back.
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Especially the day of or day after a workout. ⠀
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Think less is more. We definitely don’t want to push into stretches. Think of softening a steak! If you had a piece of meat and wanted to nurture and moisturize it, what would you do?
The more you can meet your body where it is at, the more the body can hydrate and soften the fascial network.
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Here is a 10 second video of a flowy-style stretch.
I highly recommend the forward fold as a starting position to loosen and lubricate the thoraco-lumbar fascia.
Asma Kassam, BHK, CSNA, CFST
Kinesiologist, Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Advisor, Fascial Stretch Therapist, Health & Fitness coach, Women’s Health advocate
Active Kinetix Fitness & Rehabilitation
Burnaby, Vancouver
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Active Kinetix: Personal Training, Corrective Exercise, Active Rehab, Fascial Stretch Therapy. Kinesiologists, Personal Trainers, Fascial Stretch Therapists Burnaby, Vancouver Fitness