The idea comes and goes with the wind.
Don’t stretch. It’s not necessary.
I’ve heard this sort of grumbling for years.
But we only need look at the animal kingdom for some answers.
Do animals stretch? Yes.
Do animals run, walk, climb, jump, roll around and hold various poses for long periods of time? Yes.
Even domesticated dogs and cats stretch several times per day.
Is it any wonder then that animals always move the way their species is supposed to move? A grizzly bear will always move the way a grizzly is supposed to move. Same goes for the tiger, the chimpanzee and the cheetah.
Animals also spend hours per day sitting and lying around. This doesn’t appear to hurt them or make them unhealthy because when they finally decide to move, they begin with some sort of dynamic stretch.
As infants, we started out moving correctly, then we unconsciously copied the walk, the postures and the strained mannerisms of the people in our environment, who just so happened to be disconnected from their bodies. And that’s when the problems begin.
There are many ways that humans disconnect from their bodies. Refusing to stretch and/or loosen up your body is one of them.
Yes, you can feel that you’re getting looser by walking, running or lifting weights, but if you’re carrying residual tension in your body, if you’re moving improperly, it will eventually manifest as pain somewhere.
This is why it’s a good idea to begin your day, or your workout, with dynamic stretches and/or joint loosening mobility exercises.
And that’s why I champion them in my Combat Stretching DVDs.
Within seconds you can reconnect with your body and begin to own it. Within seconds you can make yourself feel better, faster and stronger. Within seconds you can take a deep breath and feel the weight of the world being lifted off your shoulders.
Here endeth the lesson.
Matt Furey
