Toe Cocked for Hip Flexor Stretches

[hainew]

How important is the tucking of the toe, and associated heel backward / knee lifting with hips staying down contraction, relative other versions of the stretch?

These cues are emphasised right from the start; in lesson 9 Olivia introduces them, then they're gone when Kit first treats Hip Flexors in Part 3 (lesson 16), return in lesson 21, and then are gone again in the Mastery courses Hip Flexor stretches.

I still need the bolster under the back knee to get a good hip flexor stretch, as per lesson 9, so it seems counter-intuitive to skip ahead to more advanced lessons. But my toes are extremely tight so they become a limiting factor. Is there any reason not to just forget about the cocked toe / heel back contractions and use the Solo Hip Flexor limber from the Mastery course, but with a bolster, until my toes are less tight?

[Kit_L]

10 hours ago, hainew said:

Is there any reason not to just forget about the cocked toe / heel back contractions and use the Solo Hip Flexor limber from the Mastery course, but with a bolster, until my toes are less tight?

None at all. Getting the stretch is the most important thing. And it's not accurate to say that particular cues are gone in my versions—the cues activate different responses in the body. My versions emphasise deep relaxation in the final positions; Olivia's emphasis an active movement (pressing the heel back) to use the muscle that's being stretched to provide the stretch. Just different ways of achieving the end result.

And there are many more variations possible, too. Have a look here:

https://www.youtube.com/@KitLaughlin/search?query=hip flexor

Over time, try all of them—you will feel that each is slightly different (or very different). Great question, and thanks for asking.

[hainew]

13 hours ago, Kit_L said:

Over time, try all of them—you will feel that each is slightly different (or very different). Great question, and thanks for asking.

Sounds like a plan! Thanks Kit.