I can't reach down and touch my toes along with many other basic things... but I want to improve!

Currently I do a full body work out on gymnastics rings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I've been thinking of adding a stretching routine on the in-between days.

Does anyone know of any good routines or places to start with working on flexibility?

  • CommunistBear [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I just do a very basic stretching routine before working out and I've noticed tremendous improvement already in a few months. When I was first getting started I followed a lot of what this guy does. As time goes on I just stretch the muscles that feel tight and what muscles I'm working out that day.

    • Plants [des/pair]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Makes sense. I do a quick dynamic stretching warm up which I think is good for warming up but I haven't really seen any flexibility gains from it.

      Thanks for the link I'll check it out!

  • GenderIsOpSec [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Hate to be a basic bitch, but Yoga works for me. I have a 30min video from youtube for every day of the week, done usually after I do a run or a walk.

    I use mostly this channel , and here's a playlist of theirs with 64 videos of various length that are supposed to train your flexibility. I like how all the advertisement stuff is at the end of the video so there's no fucking about before the action starts.

    • Plants [des/pair]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Awesome thanks!

      I've actually been considering just getting into yoga because it's kinda already a set thing I can just dive into. That way i don't have to figure out some flexibility regime on my own

  • InsideOutsideCatside [they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I thought i couldn't touch my toes because i was inflexible, it turns out i couldn't touch my toes because I'm full of gas

  • Zo1db3rg [comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Physical therapist gave me a ton of leg stretches and stuff to do. I also do back and shoulder/arm stretches and a 10 minute medium to fast pace walk on a treadmill beforehand to warm my leg muscles up. Never stretch "cold" as you muscles need to warm/loosen up a bit before you go head first into stretching. I notice a significant difference in flexibility and pain when I warm up first. My routine takes around 40 minutes and I try to do it 5 days a week but not always. I definitely wouldn't lift on a day without stretching first. I used to not because I had been told it can actually lead to injury as it can weaken muscles but then I hurt myself and say a physical therapist and they told me that's dumb and I should always stretch. So not I do and I haven't messed myself up again as of yet.