Here’s the thing, flexibility is relative. People are just put together differently, and some people are just more flexible than others. And some of it has nothing to do with muscles. Tendons and ligaments impact joints’ range of motion. And some joints, like hips, have a lesser or greater range of motion because of the actual skeletal structure of the joint.
But everyone can benefit from stretching. Think about it like stretching allows the muscles to support a joint’s optimal range of motion rather than restricting it. Think about it like everyone can stretch to their optimal capacity but your optimal capacity and mine are not necessarily the same.
For better AND worse, I am naturally very flexible (worse because hypermobility can strain joints). Being flexible does help make stretching more enjoyable for me. It’s something that I can feel like I’m “good” at even though it has nothing to do with my goodness. That being said, I am no where near as flexible as I once was, and some stretches that used to be pleasant are uncomfortable these days.
Back in the day, stretching was an integral part of my day. Not just the stretching before/during/after dance class, but something that happened during hanging around the house time (while watching TV and especially before going to sleep). I remember one time either during or just after college when I was visiting my family. My brother and I were hanging out having a conversation about something and I decided that it was a good time to stretch my back. Apparently, it is unusual to carry on a conversation with someone while contorted in that way and J was a little surprised. Well I tell you, if you don’t use it you lose it! The last time I tried to do that stretch, I couldn’t get close.
While I would love to think that I’ll get back to being able to fold myself in half again, I don’t know that I am up for putting the kind of time in to get there. And I feel like that is ok for where I am in my life right now. But I am going to try to start making a point of getting up and getting a quick stretch in here and there throughout my day. I’ll start with some easy forward folds and see if I can’t work back up to something more interesting.
Remember when instead of saying “forward fold” we would say “touch your toes”? I’m a fan of this evolution of the nomenclature. Because “forward fold” allows for so much more variation in the position.
I tend to like to move through a few different styles when I’m doing this stretch. My favorite variation these days is with bent legs and resting your chest on your thighs. Then it’s not about hamstrings, but more about your back, neck, and shoulders. I’ve even gotten Mr. Man to do this sometimes when his back is bothering him. Because it helps!