Sunday, January 27, 2008

Stretching with a Partner

A helpful, caring partner can

* Gently urge you deeper into a position than you may be able to do yourself
* Help you get far more out of your flexibility routine than you may be able to on your own

Nevertheless, there are some disadvantages:

* Your partner can’t feel what you feel every moment.
* Your partner can’t respond to your discomfort as quickly as you may like.
* Your partner may force you into a deeper position than you’re ready for.
* Your partner can move you too quickly, which can initiate the stretch reflex

These instances can be a source of accidental injury, so maintain consistent communication with your partner to avoid uncomfortable situations. In addition, using a partner is ideal for two types of stretches: isometric stretching and PNF stretching. Although I don’t describe any of these types of exercises in this book, more advanced exercisers can adapt these techniques to the stretches I describe for beginners. Check out the next sections for the lowdown on these types of partner stretches.

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