The need to stretch?

[Madeline]

I read somewhere on this forum why stretching feels so good. My question is why do I feel like I need to stretch like every 5 minutes? And yes, when I stretch every 5 minutes it feels sooooo good.

[robertkernodle]

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Every day (wtihout exception), the first thing I do after waking is drink a glass or two of water, then after a few minutes I do forty-five minutes to an hour of stretches (lower back, core strengthening, yoga).

Then throughout the day, I also stretch.

I spent twenty years leading other people to do this stuff. Unfortunately, I feel that there is an unspoken stigma against public stretching. One of my students from years ago put it nicely and bluntly. She said something like, "People who are not in tune to stretching or who do not understand it look at others who do it as though they are masturbating."

I have to say I sort of agree. People have no problem with you putting one foot in front of another to walk, OR to use hand gestures to talk. But raise your leg past a certain level, and hold the position for a while, and I get the feel that it causes a subtle form of discomfort for people out of touch with their own bodies.

Cats stretch all the time. Humans should take note.

RK

[kotoreru]

Actually, Robert, the use of one's hands 'to talk' seems to depend on the country they come from i.e. Americans use their hands while talking far more than any British people I encounter.

I wonder why? Any thoughts?

[robertkernodle]

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Yes, kotoreru, there are cultural differences in the use of hand gestures.

It's an interesting topic.

I definitely feel that the use of hands is a more physical display, ... again which might be considered more sexual in some cultures than in others.

British have the reputation of being more reserved, so I can understand less overt mannerisms reflecting this.

Our biology benefits from stretching - (1) more relaxed muscles, (2) less overall stress, (3) better blood flow and distribution of nutrients, (4) better frame of mind. A technology-focused culture forgets this,... to the point of insidiously loosing touch with (and thereby indirectly negating acceptance of stretching for) the human body.

Formal cloths, totally kept hair styles, tight shoes, tight work spaces, and a host of other ensuing consequencies of civilization confine our bodies in subtle ways.

I believe that people who understand and feel the need to stretch have a greater inborn capacity to do so. In a sense, they have a greater stretch-fitness potential. In my years of experience in this area, I have seen bodies that have natural stretching intelligence and bodies that are stretchwise retarded.

It's like a sense of rhythm - some people do not have it. Others do. Higher civilization seems to favor nonstretchers.

Traditional men also tend to have more resistance to stretching. Gay men tend to be more comfortable with it (again, in my experience).

I'm straight and I stretch, and have stretched for decades. I was known for it as a local fitness guru, and my example inspired many men who otherwise would have been more resistant without a straight male model.

Again, I seem to think the whole idea is tied to our sense of sexuality somehow.

RK

[kotoreru]

Interesting ideas about the tie-in with sexuality, I see where you are coming from on that one.

Do you know anything of the Alexander Technique, Robert, and if so - is there anything to it? What little I do know of it (a small book) makes it sound almost like a religion! 'the Technique', with a capital T, is a bit frightening imho.

[Madeline]

Ummm...how did my question turn into a thread on sexuality? I was just wondering why do I feel as if I need to stretch every so often. Most people stretch to warm up for exercises, but I "feel" as if I need to stretch like every 5 minutes. It's the same feeling when you awake in the morning when you feel you need to stretch.

[kotoreru]

Yeh good point, apologies from myself (but its certainly not unusual for threads to diverge considerably).

Your 'need' to stretch is likely more psychological than physical - you've simply somehow attached great pleasure to the act of stretching in your mind.

Just dont over do it.

[Madeline]

What's wrong with stretching too much for the sake of pleasure?
It makes my entire body feel soooooo good and relaxes me. Almost like a full body massage all at once. Just thinkng about it makes me feel relaxed.

[khenwood]

Do you know anything of the Alexander Technique, Robert, and if so - is there anything to it? What little I do know of it (a small book) makes it sound almost like a religion! 'the Technique', with a capital T, is a bit frightening imho.

I took an Alexander Technique class in college to supplement my dance classes. It was very interesting, but I could do with a refresher class.

[kotoreru]

What's wrong with stretching too much for the sake of pleasure?

Why, you might pull something of course! :O

I took an Alexander Technique class in college to supplement my dance classes. It was very interesting, but I could do with a refresher class.

Hmm. It's all about posture and carrying oneself properly etc. isnt it?

[Madeline]

Stretching is for avoiding the pulling of muscles, so how can I pull something by stretching too much?

[kotoreru]

I wasnt referring to the muscles specifically, but quite simply its a case of too much of a 'good' thing is never good...or somesuch.