Relaxation Stretching

Relaxation Stretching

With relaxation stretching, the physical body is stretched, not as an act of exertion, but as a relaxation extension. The practice harnesses the body’s natural pattern of extending on the exhaling breath.

Across the body, muscles are continuously and automatically tightening and relaxing in concert with the breath cycle. Relaxation Stretching harnesses this relaxation pattern enhancing the targeted muscle’s extension on the exhaling breath.

Additional muscular extension is achieved after employing the active Guided Breath and passive relaxation stretching by initiating a deliberate contraction and relaxation of the target area.  This deliberate contraction facilitates further extension on the subsequent exhaling breath.

Mindfulness Stretching

Mindfulness Stretching^TM often follows a Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) contract/relax sequences in the following pattern:

• contract for five seconds
• stop contracting and breath in
• extend on the exhaling breath.

Contractions are generally performed such that the affected part of the body does not move notwithstanding the effort applied.  A static contraction is achieved by bracing the affected body part to prevent movement resulting from the contracting muscle. Bracing can be achieved using a wall, the floor, gravity, another part of the body or a partner. The contraction brings blood flow and mental attention to the target area and predisposes the area to relaxation on the next exhaling breath.

Contract/Relax

Contract/Relax stretching is particularly effective in the extension of muscles that are at their usual edge of range of motion.  The preceding activation facilitates an increase in a muscle’s range of motion. The extension of range, using the relaxation extension method often brings significant pain relief to sedentary bodies.

PNF Stretches are fantastically effective for relieving tension in a muscle and to enhance the range of a muscle. They are often used by physiotherapists and other Allied Health professionals.

If you are thinking of trying a yoga class or a stretching class in Canberra, try our Mindfulness stretching classes that we run across Canberra and online. Register here.