| Listen to your body, stretch and condition the | | | | Flexibility is not a one shot deal to be explored at |
| way that your body tells you to, yeah, yeah, I | | | | the beginning of your workout. Flexibility should be |
| get it. But what happens if you DON'T SPEAK | | | | practiced regularly, throughout your workout. See, |
| your body's language? You want to be flexible but | | | | there are two types of flexibility, static and |
| you don't have a clue how to get there. If you | | | | dynamic. Static flexibility is the range of motion |
| want to own the secrets to ultimate flexibility you | | | | that is in a joint when it is in a certain, stationary |
| need to understand how your body works and | | | | position. Dynamic flexibility is the range of motion |
| how it responds to certain exercises and | | | | that is in a joint when it is moving. |
| workouts. The secrets to ultimate flexibility lie | | | | Once you find the secrets to ultimate flexibility, |
| within you, not with some guy hopping around on | | | | you will have more power, a higher fitness level, |
| a TV screen with a really happy (or really intense) | | | | better relaxation, enhanced range of motion and a |
| look on his face, bouncing around with at least | | | | higher capacity to learn skilled movements. But it |
| two hot babes in the background, telling you how | | | | is a process to achieve this level of flexibility. |
| to get in shape and achieve the flexibility that you | | | | Keep your muscles warm and you will have a |
| want. | | | | greater range of motion. You can do static |
| Nope, not gonna happen. | | | | stretching exercises three times a week, but the |
| Your body will tell you what works best for you. | | | | dynamic stretching, the stretching that you do as |
| But let's look a little at the concept of flexibility | | | | you practice your art, is what will give you the |
| and stretching. First, think about what you are | | | | most natural range of motion and flexibility. |
| doing here. If you take several minutes to | | | | When you stretch, do it slowly and there should |
| stretch, say, your legs to get the right height on | | | | not be any pain. If you go too far with your |
| a side kick, think about this. You are taking | | | | stretching, you will actually lose flexibility because |
| several minutes to prepare a weapon before you | | | | your muscle will contract. Warm up first and do |
| can use it. Now, I don't know about you, but I | | | | some static stretches, holding the stretch for 15 |
| don't think I would want to have to take several | | | | to 60 seconds but do not bounce! If you want to |
| minutes to prepare a weapon if I was being | | | | put yourself out of commission, you will bounce - |
| threatened in some dark alley by a 400 pound | | | | not cool. Do some dynamic stretching like kicking |
| ex-con named Tiny! | | | | and rhythmic bouncing. These are just some of |
| What I am saying here is to be flexible means to | | | | the secrets to ultimate flexibility, but they will help |
| always be warmed up, flexible and ready. | | | | you get flexible and get fit. |