| nursehoney
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Need advice on the best way to develop and increase flexibility. At 51, I just don't seem to have any. I've read some of the posts here, and now have just enough knowledge to be confused. :?
Yoga? Pilates? Basic stretching? Which will give me the best results most quickly? (Yeah, I have patience issues, LOL) I'd really like to know if any of those really give you longer, leaner muscles.
Thanks in advance! |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:09 am |
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| JerseygirlMP
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| IMO yoga is the best way to increase flexibility and generally improve many different aspects of your life (possibly even your patience level ;)) on the downside, i can't think of any flexibility solution that will give you 'quick' results. with stretching consistence is key and progress is usually slow. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:44 am |
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| wileybosco
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| Yoga-First find a basics gentle class that focuses on principles of primary poses, postures and movement. As you get into the groove move to Power Vinyasa basics class where you learn to put it together with breath and flows of poses. It blends strength and flexibility and tones the body and disciplines the mind. I love it and I am in my forties. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:50 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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I'm 51, too. I've been stretching for about three months and my flexibility has improved quite a lot, but I've always been pretty flexible. I just do basic stretching at home, but I'm considering trying some yoga.
As for longer muscles, I don't quite buy that. Your muscles are as long as they are and that is lengthened by the length of your limbs. I have short legs; nothing is going to make the muscles on them look anything but round and stocky. Right now, my hamstrings look like I have a bowling ball tucked under my skin! :lol:
Okay, I'm exaggerating. But regardless of how it makes your muscles look, there are lots or reasons to improve your flexibility. So just get started doing anything, you can always change it up later. Like I always told my kids, something is better than nothing. :wink: |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:41 pm |
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| JerseygirlMP
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| matlby: that's the reason to stretch, in order to lengthen the muscle. you ever see those body builders walking around with bulging biceps but can't straighten their arm? that's because they don't stretch the muscle and it's become shorter than the range of motion in the joints. i do agree though that length of limbs can limit the length of the muscle, but it's possible for the muscle to be shorter than that. :) |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:01 pm |
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| OldGreyBob
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| I found that BodyFlow at my gym ready helped me. It is a mixture of Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates. I am surprised how much flexibility this 60 year old frame could pick up! I actual did the Crane pose Tuesday... |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:02 pm |
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| Love2paint4you
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We do yoga/pilates stretches for 15 minutes in my taekwondo classes. I've gone from somebody who thought that they had no flexibility to being able to do the spits on both legs and let my hands go. I can do yoga with no problems. It really only took a few months to get there, but it takes persistance.
I used to think I hated stretching, now I absolutly love it. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:06 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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| Bob, you got me all interested in your BodyFlow (and so on) classes, but they are not offered in Washington. :( |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:42 pm |
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| nursehoney
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Well thanks to all who responded!! You've offered some great advice and given me reason to believe it's never too late to do something good for your body!!
For now I guess I'll stay with basic stretching, but I can easily foresee yoga in my future!
Thanks again! |
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Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:04 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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JerseygirlMP wrote: matlby: that's the reason to stretch, in order to lengthen the muscle. you ever see those body builders walking around with bulging biceps but can't straighten their arm? that's because they don't stretch the muscle and it's become shorter than the range of motion in the joints. i do agree though that length of limbs can limit the length of the muscle, but it's possible for the muscle to be shorter than that. :)
Well I know that, but, really, how many of us are walking around with limbs that won't fully extend? :lol: |
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Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:31 am |
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| Kimboroni
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| About as many of us that have to spend all day at work hunched over our computers with bent legs and arms. |
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Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:03 pm |
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| maltby_gardner
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Eee gads! Maybe you need a better chair! I am practically glued to my computer but I can at least fully extend my arms and legs! :wink:
Hey, I see you're in Oregon. Do you have spring, yet? It's still freezing up here around Puget Sound. |
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Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:31 pm |
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| Kimboroni
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Maybe you just think you can fully extend them :wink:
It's been nice off and on, but that's typical of spring in Oregon! |
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Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:39 pm |
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