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Old 03-23-2006, 10:40 AM   #2
vjw
Dojo: Rochester Phoenix
Location: Rochester, NY
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 83
United_States
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Re: Am I starting wrong each and every time?

Hi Charlse,

If you are trying to increase your flexibility beyond its current level during a class warm up then I think you are starting wrong. My aim during warm up is to first warm up the muscles (a warm muscle will stretch further than a cold muscle). Then I go on to do movements that will prepare me for the class that I'm warming up for, exercises that will mimic the movements we will do and that will allow me to comfortably move in my normal range of motion. For example, before doing Kotegaeshi, you would apply Kotegaeshi to your own wrists in a gentle rhythmic motion several times. I used to attend a yoga class an hour before Aikido but found that my muscles had not recovered sufficiently to perform well in class. So I suggest you do static stretching at the end of class and other times when it will not affect your physical activities.

Hope this helps,
Vic
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