Back flexibility?

Printable View

02-06-2011, 01:36 PM
Catrin

Back flexibility?

One thing has been very constant in my fitness assessments over the past year and a half or so. Part of this is a test of flexibility - though really it seems more a test of back flexibility.

The test is quite simple, one takes shoes off, sits on the floor in front of this metal contraption, feet against it. Then, keeping knees on the ground, one leans forward and pushes a lever on the metal contraption as far forward as one can. This is done twice.

Quite frankly, my flexibility in this department s*cks. With all of the work I've done, the lost of 55 pounds and everything else, it has not changed at all. Indeed, it may have decreased slightly.

Are there exercises I can do that will increase this kind of flexibility? Can yoga help this? I am hoping that I can do something for this - but I think it's been around for much longer than realize as I've only become aware of it when I finally started becoming active a year and a half ago.
02-06-2011, 02:25 PM
OakLeaf

That's supposed to be a test of hamstring flexibility. Is your trainer letting you round your back while you do it? Making sure your sitbones stay on the floor?

Yoga can help you change your body in all kinds of neat ways. Myself, I've always been pretty flexible in forward bending, but I'm historically tight just about everywhere else. Little by little...

But keep in mind that your goal isn't some abstract measure that will be different for everyone, your goal is to stay in good alignment.
02-06-2011, 02:38 PM
Catrin

Quote:

Originally Posted by OakLeaf

That's supposed to be a test of hamstring flexibility. Is your trainer letting you round your back while you do it? Making sure your sitbones stay on the floor?

Yoga can help you change your body in all kinds of neat ways. Myself, I've always been pretty flexible in forward bending, but I'm historically tight just about everywhere else. Little by little...

But keep in mind that your goal isn't some abstract measure that will be different for everyone, your goal is to stay in good alignment.

Ahhh, my misunderstanding. Then considering my hamstring issues of late then I shouldn't be surprised that it was a little worse as one of them is still tighter than the others. Yes, he made certain my sitbones stayed on the floor and that my back wasn't rounding - and that me'nees were on the ground :)

Thanks, this was quite helpful.