Need to increase flexibility. Need advice

ChrisC_77

I will tell you straight up that I am not very flexible. I want to insure that I don't result in injury when I lift weights and do cardio. Anyone have any successful strategies for increasing flexibility? Thanks!

kchang77

Yoga, my wife got me into it and really helps. I go with her to her classes sometimes on use the On Demand programs on my cable tv.

Yogi_Carl

Yoga - definitely Yoga. It will also build real strength, balance and motivation. Go to a class with a good teacher - you'll meet with a great community.

Wonderwoman2677

Make real stretching part of your workout. Look up stretching for dance and do it gently every day.

djdube525

Ditto on Yoga... Added benefit is that it's a great core workout... I was a bit surprised. You end up engaging a number of muscles that help stabilize your body / keep you balanced. An other added benefit... I found it helped relax my mind for the day (I was doing a morning stretch Yoga class).., I was always a bit more relaxed on those days.

ChrisC_77

Thanks for the tips everyone!

damiannikodem

yoga works, or take up a martial art. we spend about half a hour every class doing all kinds of stretches (mostly legs and back) and being surrounded by other people whom are doing the same ones makes you push yourself a little bit harder than you normally would otherwise.

When I am lifting I do bits of kata that have tensions in them inbetween sets before increasing weights which (in my head at least anyway, im not sure if there is any actual evidence of this) seems to reset my muscles back to feeling like they did prior to the last set.

My warmup / cardio simply involves sitting on a bike with the tension turned up all the way mostly just to get my blood pumping and I don't stretch prior to that and dont have any issues from not doing so

notthatthis

cardio warm up
dynamic stretching - really useful - search youtube for demonstrations
work out
static stretch - www.exrx.com for best stretches
cool down

Yoga or Pilates as a separate endeavour to your work out.

lacroyx

http://roglawfitness.com/the-minimalist-guide-to-mobility/

Wonderwoman2677

http://roglawfitness.com/the-minimalist-guide-to-mobility/

Just checked this out... Awesome!

newcs

I do a mix of yoga and stretching DVDs (the stretching ones geared toward old people are kinda corny but have some good stretches especially when you're starting with not a lot of flexibility).