Absolute Beginner Stretching Question

[Chris_N]

Hi all, 

I had previously emailed this to Kit and he has asked me to post in the forum so other guests and members can benefit:

I'm a 26 year old Sydney-based Engineer. I have a few niggling areas that give me trouble when I exercise (right lower back area and right wrist area when I used to do compound lifts at the gym; upper hamstring tendon when I run or do lunges due to a hamstring tendinopathy I sustained years ago).

Before continuing and increasing the risk of sustaining further injury to these or other areas, I recognise the need to reset, work on mobility and also have a desire to build up a solid foundation of strength slowly and work from there. This is where Gymnastic Bodies comes into the picture. However, my posture and mobility is far from perfect and so I need to work on this the same time. 

 

I have just purchased Fundamentals, Foundation One, and Handstand One from Gymnastic Bodies. I would like to purchase your stretch videos on Vimeo but am at a bit of a loss as to where to begin. I was reading the forums and came across a comment you made in this thread:

 

Link: http://kitlaughlin.com/forums/index.php?/topic/1057-when-to-start-with-st-and-what-it-can-do-for-us/

 

"And when I said 'I remember Kit saying that he thinks it would be very beneficial to do his work for 6 months to a year before doing GST to cover all mobility deficits we'all no doubt face ', I was talking about someone who was starting GST (so little investment) not someone with (say) a couple of years' work in..."

 

I'm very interested in undertaking this 6 to 12 months of mobility work you mention to iron out any kinks I have before diving head on into the Foundation One course. I didn't see any of your materials recommended for this though. Would you be able to provide me with recommendations on what products you believe would be of assistance to me? Please bear in mind I am a complete beginner.

Thanks very much.

 

 

[Kit_L]

We will be making this program (Absolute Beginner's Stretching) in 2017, starting in April. It will be exactly what you need (we have had many requests for this beginning-level of work, and we are committed to doing this; it is the first priority for the coming year).

In the meantime, I feel that Master the Squat (MTS) and perhaps the follow-along Overcome back pain programs are the best way in. If you really do have extremely tight hamstrings, you will find quite a few 'partial' poses in MTS that will help you start moving these. We use the term partial pose for what sometimes looks like a "badly done" version of an exercise you may have seen, but whose effects can be very strong. In particular, the standing bent-to-straight leg exercises have been incredibly effective for many people, myself included.

I work with beginners all the time (for example, the 48 attendees on the retreat I am teaching at now), and the keys to unlocking the hamstrings are piriformis and calf muscles as well as these partial poses (we have a number of relevant exercises on the YT channel and in the MTS program). I regard MTS as the way in to all the other mastery series, and there are many reasons for that.

In addition, any of the limbering programs will find all sorts of hidden 'resistance' pockets in the body. Pay particular attention to all the threads in the Start Here section. Do not skip any of the threads.

[Chris_N]

Thanks Kit for the detailed answer. 2017 couldn't come sooner in hindsight! Looking forward to this Beginners program, I have some friends who lift at the gym and complain about a lack of mobility so it will be great to recommend this beginner series to them also.

I will purchase the programs you recommended. Happy to support the great service and effort you put into helping us all.

[Kit_L]

@Chris_N: posting here to let you know that ABSS, though later than we intended, is all available, in three parts, on our Vimeo on Demand channel. There is a link in each description, for substantial discounts.