Partner Stretch Question

[KDas]

I am a big fan of the Mastery Series and have been exploring a lot of the great content on those videos as well as following a lot of the threads on the forums re:  improving flexibility and mobility.  In the last couple months I have found a fellow ST follower with whom to work on partner stretching.   

During a good week,  we are maybe able to get together 2X to partner stretch.  From a consistency stand point,  it will more likely be that we can work 1x / week.  

We have been partner stretching for about 3 months or say 15X or so. 

We have started and making good  progress with the partner HF and partner Stick stretches.  

From reading the threads on the forums and from listening to some of the interviews,  it seems like the most partner stretches with the greatest bang for the buck are the HF and Stick stretch.   My question is  along with the HF and Stick stretches,  is there an order or ranking of next best partner stretches to be exploring ?

sincerely,

KDas in CT, USA

 

[MarkusO]

Hi KDas! In addition to the stretches mentioned by you, look into partner supported versions for backward bending, spinal rotation, extension, flexion and piriformis. Basically the movements covered by the daily five. Have a look into the S&F book, everything is well documented there and you might find several partner versions for the same movements (e.g., for spinal rotation there is more than one partner version). Try them out and see what feels good for you and what your body needs.

Also keep in mind that there is no limb that is not worth stretching  

[KDas]

Thank you  for your reply Markus.    Now that I have found someone to work with,  the challenge has been to figure out which  direction to explore the partner stretches.  The daily 5 is a good suggestion  and all limbs will be explored.  

Thanks.

[SwissDanny]

As Markus says, there are many.  The scalene/shoulder depression is definitely a "go to" partner stretch, so easy to teach too.

Also not really a partner stretch but having someone cue your position in the butcher block type stretches is very effective.

[KDas]

Thank you for your reply.  I definitely like the partner shoulder depression and find that helps a lot.   I will give the butcher block stretches a try with my partner looking on and cueing.  That sounds like it will help a lot.  Thanks again.

[Tones]

Partner stretching is the awesome because they have eyes to correct on you and can apply force to help align things.

It's all in the Stretching & Flexibility book. When you understand the principles you can make anything partnered assisted.

[Jim Pickles]

Another reason why I like using partner stretches with my students: If person A is applying a stretch to person B, partner stretching helps educate person A to feel what stretching is like their own body. When you are stretching yourself (or being stretched, i.e. when you are person B ) the sensations can be so overwhelming that it is difficult to know what is going on.  However, if person A is alert to what is going on in person B's body, they can feel the different phases of tightening and relaxation during the stretch, which alerts them to the stretching process, and then they can apply these lessons to their own stretching.

Jim.

(PS - how do I stop B ) turning into when I dont put a space after the letter B?)

[Nathan]

@Jim Pickles If you put a space between the B and ) and then delete it afterward, it should work. It's when you press the space bar after the character combination that it converts it to a smiley, so if you press the space bar while they are separated and then remove the space between them it won't be converted. There might be an easier way, but that should definitely work.