what do you do for flexibility?

[Island Son]

I can't put the bar low on my back during squatting anymore
and there's no way in heck I can have my upper arm horizontal while the bar is across my upper chest (starting position for push press), they point pretty far back behine me.

Help!
How do I get more flexible? What do you guys do?

 

[velvett]

Pilates.

No really I'm serious.

 

[carlsuen]

(shrugs)

 

[super_rice]

You need to stretch, and practice the lifts. THe flexibility comes with time.

 

[Supercharge]

http://www4.vip.net/soya/GOMUK2.GIF

See what he is doing with his arms. Do that, forget the legs.
If you can't touch your arms than use a towel.
It will help your shoulder flexibility.

 

[Island Son]

http://www4.vip.net/soya/GOMUK2.GIF

See what he is doing with his arms. Do that, forget the legs.
If you can't touch your arms than use a towel.
It will help your shoulder flexibility.

thanks
i have the towel
is the lower arm being pulled up, or is the upper arm coming down?

 

[Island Son]

You need to stretch, and practice the lifts. THe flexibility comes with time.

which upper body stretches are most effective, and how often/how long do you do them?
(I only stretch my legs)

 

[Island Son]

Pilates.

No really I'm serious.

I have one yoga DVD
but Hemalaya Behl was more eye candy than effective

 

[Cynical Simian]

Take a look at T-Nation for a bunch of stretching articles. Also, exrx has stretches sorted by muscle or muscle group.

 

[Supercharge]

The arms are supposed to be comming toward each other.
So you use the upper arm to pull the lower one up and wise-versa.
Just make sure you warm up before you do that.
Also don't pump up, just warm up. A muscle pump gets in a way of those stretches.

 

[GSP]

Broomstick stretches. I've been doing them a few weeks now and they are really starting to make an impact on my shoulder flexibilty.

 

[mekannik]

I picked up some Dynamic Core excercises for pre-workout (leg drops, trunk rotations, rotator work, OHS w/dowel) done for low reps with a slight pause. Post workout are Static Core excercises (pirus formis, hip flexor, hamstrings) held for 30-45 seconds.

Read about a couple others for pre-workout. Walk ups from the pushup position. One other I can not remember - but requires some flexibility (alright, alot of flexibility).

 

[velvett]

I have one yoga DVD
but Hemalaya Behl was more eye candy than effective

I just use tapes from Mari Winsor.
You can order them direct in a group or singles from online sources.

http://www.winsorpilates.com/
http://www.collagevideo.com/pilates/

Basic 20 minute will do
As a side not ethe abs are killler.
Great core w/o.

Good Luck.

 

[Sassy69]

Here's a great source for "how to stretch" as well:

http://www.cmcrossroads.com/bradapp/docs/rec/stretching/stretching_5.html#SEC43

 

[Tweakle]

DC extreme stretching (although I can easily 'forget' to do these) and a LOT of hip, glute and hammie stretching at home on a ball.

 

[ebear]

http://www4.vip.net/soya/GOMUK2.GIF

See what he is doing with his arms. Do that, forget the legs.
If you can't touch your arms than use a towel.
It will help your shoulder flexibility.

Man, I can't even get CLOSE

I've got to start working more on flexibility...

 

[anotherbutters]

I can touch my wrists with my fingertips. Question is, do I still need to stretch my shoulders like that?