Stretching

[Margoxx]

I'm beginning to recognise the importance of stretching but can anyone recommend a daily routine I can follow even on days that I do not run.

I am also training to do the Moonwalk in May so I want to look after myself

[TheEditor]

Here you go:

nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

[didntrunthat Graduate]

If you want to be sure you are doing them correctly or for more ideas I also find youtube quite useful to see stretches in action.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Its a good question and I've always stretched after my runs. But last week I did a Stretch Workshop at my gym for the first time, this followed two previous classes. IT WAS BRILLIANT, I have never felt so invigorated after any exercise class and I'm looking forward to attending the class again tomorrow. Stretching was and still is to some degree under estimated, its benefits can and do help prevent injury.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I must admit I would never have started the programme if it had involved stretching before or after runs (partly because I think it looks naff (sorry!) and partly because I have to be very careful about stretching) I stick with the 5 minute walk before and after. (I've stretched afterwards maybe two or three times in a year when I have either felt the need or for some reason not been doing the walk at the end)

Which isn't to say I am not doing stretching at other times. I'd like to do the Strength and Flexibility programme allied to C25K (still trying to work that one out) and I use EkhartYoga/Yogatic on YouTube.

[swanscot Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Ah, another Esther Ekhart yoga fan. I frequently use her videos for my yoga sessions too. She is a good teacher and it's great of her to make these videos available on YouTube

However, unlike you, I would not be able to do yoga half as well if I didn't stretch. Even before I started running I found hillwalking gives me very tight/short hamstrings. I use several yoga poses as well as the standard runners' stretches after each and every run.

[paterson]

I use a 15 minute Iyengar Yoga Practice on a Yoga for Beginners DVD by Patricia Walden. You can buy it for about £8.00 on Amazon and it is a very good daily practice. If you haven't done yoga before, there is a complete beginners class on the DVD and once you have done that a few times you can probably do the 15 minute practice.

I am also doing the Moonwalk in May and have bought Nina Barough's book "Walking for Fitness" which has a "Stretch and Strengthen" routine in the book.

Good luck with Moonwalk