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My new fav stretching technique!
Just thought I’d share my almost miraculous experience with partner resisted stretching! I started off my pole journey being ridiculously inflexible. my “splits” were so high off the ground a person could have crawled under my legs. After a year of dedicated stretching I got my front splits, but my middles have been terribly stubborn.
I made middle splits my 2013 New Years resolution, starting the year at 12″ from the ground and setting my goal at achieving 1″ per month for the year. The first couple months I made steady progress, but plateaued at 8″/9″ around the end of March. On good days I could get down to 8″, but on bad days could only get to 9″.
3 weeks ago I did some private sessions with Estée Zakar, and she taught me several partnered resistance stretches. I started incorporating these techniques into my flexibility training two weeks ago. The last couple stretching sessions I’ve done, I got down to 4″ off the floor in my middles!!! After having been stuck at 8″/9″ for over two months, I’ve consistently gotten down to 4″ after just TWO WEEKS!!!
Every body is different, so resistance stretching might not work for everyone. And the downside is, you need a partner who’s been trained in the technique to assist, which not everyone has access to (Estée Zakar taught me, and then I taught my hubby, he’s the one who’s been stretching me). Also, this type of stretching can be more high risk, as its easier to accidentally over stretch your partner. So it should only be undertaken with caution and care.
With all that in mind, just thought I’d pass on some info on how beneficial this technique has been for me, personally!! YMMV!! Happy stretching!
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7 Replies
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Is there anywhere we can see any of this so we can teach a partner how to stretch? x
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Would you say it’s similar to doing resistance stretching with therabands? Or is a partner essential? Â
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For some of the stretches that I know, I think you could substitute a theraband. For the particular stretch that helped me make progress on my middle splits, I don’t think it would work. For that one, I think you really do need a partner.
As far as learning the technique, I would suggest finding someone in your area who already knows how, to teach you. It can be dangerous if your partner does it incorrectly, so I wouldn’t trust trying to learn through a video or online tutorial. That’s just my personal thought on it.
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I did a partner stretch for my straddle today and oh lord did that stretch! LOL. I usually use the wall for resistance in my straddles but using a partner was like 4 times as intense..
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Ya, I had been using the wall for resistance previously, and it does not even compare!
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This is so great! My hubs is an old gymnast, and has always said, that he should help me stretch, because he knows how to do that. I always said no,I wanna do it alone, but I might give it a try.
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I really need to find someone who can help me with stretching! I'm reasonably flexy but I feel like I need that added push (sometimes literally!) to get me down further (carefully) when my strength is not enough to get into things by myself
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