Listen to the NYT, don’t stretch before exercising, die anyway along with the guy who stretched.
Unless you’re doing plyometrics or explosive reps in weight training, it’s probably sufficient to loosen up through light reps of your exercise regiment.
The light reps will loosen you up sufficiently.
I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true? A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it...don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Jack Lalanne on stretching:
“Warming up is the biggest bunch of horse—— I’ve ever heard in my life. Fifteen minutes to warm up! Does a lion warm up when he’s hungry? ‘Uh-oh, here comes an antelope. Better warm up.’ No! He just goes out and eats the sucker. You gotta get the blood circulating, but, does the lion cool down? No, he eats the sucker and goes to sleep. And that, is the truth.”
Gee, more than 30 years ago, it was a rule that before a taxing karate workout, that you only did “loosening” exercises, to make sure there were not muscle, tendon, or joint “surprises” that would come out during the workout.
This would be followed by some unusual mild strength and endurance exercises, only about 30 seconds to a minute each, which would also loosen up the internal organs, give the back muscles and selected joints a test from odd angles, as well. This had everything from “Sumo push ups”, which are a rocking motion, standing leg lifts, and some light kicks.
Only then would you get into the karate workout.
Stretching was saved for after, as part of the “cool down” after the workout. It was always long, slow tension, never bouncing, which could damage muscle.
Doing that is very destructive to your back.
I should add that Judo warm ups were a very different kettle of fish, because they want students to be exhausted before they begin, so they have to use technique, not just brute force.
The only time I ever pulled a muscle was while stretching. I was never that into it before then, and stopped after.
Hmm, many pounds ago I was a regular 10K runner. I have to (!) stretch my upper IT band ligament, or else it will tear and take a heck of al long time to heal.
Also, for skiing, I’d rather have my ligaments pre-stretched a bit in case I wipe out badly, to prevent tears.
Other than that, I’m not keen on stretching anymore - especially before doing some warm-up.
When I was running I never stretched before, but I did sometimes stretch after. I would simply start slowly, and gradually increase my speed.
They are also finding out obesity isn’t as dangerous as they thought or being thin as healthy. Skinny people tend to be sicker and die earlier, not that liberals would ever want that.
Pray for America
Interesting article. Why the San Fran 49ers love to stretch.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324734904578243930799732200.html
Lifting weights IS stretching. Absolutely no need for “stretching.”
I always thought “stretching” was a Lefty, whole-grain, anti-Western, pacifist, collectivist, holistic, Commie importation, anyway.
If I ever get the urge to exercise in Croatia, I’ll remember not to stretch beforehand.
Stretching is usually done in public by those who want to draw attention to themselves. They usually do it while leaning on the Prius or other hybrid car.
If you look at them while stretching you get the “stare” back.
Similarly the duffers on the golf course who spend 15 minutes “stretching” and warming up - then they get on the tee and hit a blazing 180 yard drive - usually a nice slice 20 yards off the fairway. Yep stretching helps lots!
