Stretching Equipment Tips
The only two pieces of equipment needed for 2 Second Stretching are a strap to assist with some stretches and a comfortable place to lie down.
Stretching Strap: I cover various options, from making your own strap to straps for people with weak hands or tender feet. Finally, I explain why using a resistance band or resistance tube as a stretching strap isn’t a good idea.
Firm but comfortable play to lie down: While it may seem unnecessary to lie down when stretching your legs, there are a couple of very important benefits. The first is protecting your lower back, and the Second is a deeper, more effective stretch. I explain more in the video.
If you enjoy the video, give us a thumbs up and do leave us a comment. We love feedback.
If you haven’t already, be sure to Subscribe so we can post you about new video releases. As a welcome, we’ll send you our free eBook, “A Guide to Active & Pain-Free, Two Seconds at a Time”.
Additional Links...
Stretching Equipment Video Transcript…
Today, I'm talking about stretching equipment. Hi, Dan Rioux with YouStretching.com. When you stretch your legs using the two-second stretching technique, you're going to need a couple of things. Number one, something comfortable to lay on. While it may seem unnecessary to lay down when stretching your legs there are a couple of very important benefits. The first, protecting your lower back. From a laying position you're able to keep your lower back in a neutral position which eliminates or dramatically reduces any low back strain. Second it'll make the stretch a lot more effective. From a laying position you're able to use the muscles that oppose the target muscle to do the heavy lifting and movement of the leg. That leaves your target muscle totally relaxed. And stretching a totally relaxed target muscle is a lot more effective than stretching one which is contracting and resisting the stretch. So for stretching your legs, I recommend a massage table or a bed with a firm mattress. Other options include a yoga mat on the floor, or an area with a padded carpet, or really, any place where you can lay down comfortably.
The second thing you'll need is a strap to assist with the leg stretches. If you have a yoga strap you're all set; I would just use that. If you don’t, you might find something laying around the house you can use. Some people like using a thick rope. I prefer a nylon strap. This happens to be a car topping strap. And what I like about it is it's light, it's compact, and it's very strong. If you're gonna make your own strap you'll need a section between 7 and 9 feet long. Now one thing I would not use is anything that tends to be stretchable or flexible like this resistance band. Some people actually call this a stretch band; probably because it stretches. But it's meant for strengthening. And I love it for strengthening. I just would never use it for stretching.
Now what I will be using for the demos you'll be seeing, is a strap I purchased on Amazon for less than ten dollars. It’s especially designed for stretching and it has a couple of benefits. For instance if you have tender bony feet, and you find a rope or a nylon strap leaves them feeling painful or tender, then you might appreciate this strap. It has a padded area for your foot to help it stay comfortable. If you struggle with your grip or have a hard time pulling on a strap, this particular strap has grab handles all the way down to make pulling easier. If you're interested in in a strap like this I'll have a link for you down below. But know, that while Amazon does pay me a small fee for anything you purchase through this link, it won't affect the price.
Well that's it. I hope you enjoyed this video and found it helpful. And if you did please, give us a thumbs up so we'll know we're on the right track. And I would love to hear from you; any questions or concerns you might have, any suggestions you might have for us. So please, leave your comments and questions below. And I hope you'll share this video with family members, friends, or anyone who you think might benefit from stretching. So, I'm Dan Rioux. If you're watching this anywhere other than at YouStretching.com, be sure to head over there, where we have a growing library of free videos, and a free ebook about the two-second stretching technique. And if you haven't already be sure to subscribe, so we can keep you informed as we release new videos. Until next time, I hope you stay excited about living an active pain-free lifestyle, and committed to the self-care that makes it a reality.
