what is the tried and tested method for improving flexibility that can be done at home?
Answers
Most people wish they were more flexible but don’t do anything about it, because most flexibility training feels like a weird form of torture.
Pike position stretchYou fold yourself into painful positions and sit there for 10 times as long as you want to.
Do that every day for a few months until you are absolutely positive it didn’t work, and then you can go back to being tight, sore, and restricted, just like always.
If you’ve experienced something like that, you’re not alone.
I’ve been a physical therapist and martial artist for decades. And in my experience most people want to be more flexible but hate training for it.
Because most flexibility training is just… bad.
It lays out cookie cutter routines and promises that if you follow them, you’ll somehow hit your personal goals for your unique body.
But the actual “trick” to fast flexibility is to focus on the areas you personally need to work on, and then to train with the most efficient tools. This requires a bit of self-reflection and critical thinking, but you’ll make much faster and more valuable progress than just following someone else’s stretching routine.