Thread: which is best

I've recently changed my views considerably about static stretching. We were always told in school (or wherever) to stretch before and after exercise...well, if you really think about this process all you're doing is pulling to the point of almost tearing your muscles/tendons/ligaments - we tend to think of that little bit of pain when stretching as 'oh, its doing some good', when really its your body saying, this is unnatural.

The reason why I say this, is because i'm undergoing treatment for acute tendonitis and my Oesteopath is fantastic, we've been working on absolutely NO static stretching, just gentle swinging of arms, ever so light stretches that are loose and relaxed, posture and 'heavy elbows'. My injury stems from long periods of stretching before running, then the same again after. I've stretched so much that my tendon has thinned.

So, in answer to your question - a short, relaxed, with a correct posture (which I guess is what yoga is all about anyway!) is the best approach. I would state that long periods of heavy stretching is a no no.