Which activities increase flexibility?
Normally we look to stretching exercises, and then yoga as ways to increase flexibility.
If you don't enjoy stretching and yoga, then increasing flexibility becomes a chore. What other activities are good for increasing flexibility?
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Tom Kurz' Flexibility Express, though not the most polished DVD, is a good source of mobility and flexibility exercises that go beyond basic stretching. He touches on dynamic strength exercises like back bridges, deep wide squats, overhead pressing from a squat, deadlifts, and divebomber push-ups as ways to work towards, for instance, the splits.
The only activities I know of to increase flexibility are stretching. Don't look at it as a chore, look at it as a way for you to relax.
I personally find that I'm more likely to enjoy stretching if the environment is right. If I have to stretch in the middle of the weight room because the gym I'm in doesn't have a stretching area, I find that I don't enjoy it and feel like I'm going to get stepped on.
If it's a quiet area, then I find it more beneficial and relaxing.
Try Stretching 5-10 minutes every day before you go to bed. at the end of the day, your muscles are loose so it will be easier to stretch before bed than after breakfast.
AFAIK there are differences between different kinds of exercise. Runners tend to be stiff, Zumba, Salsa etc is good for the hips.
Also I think warm stretching can be more efficient than (normal cold) Yoga. Martial Arts like Ta-know-Do with stretching should be very efficient. There is also fitness "Yoga" like Bikram and Asthanga where the body is warm. (Real Yoga is IMHO better in the long term)
Any activity that requires a large range of motion will increase your flexibility, assuming you do it consistently and strive for proper technique: gymnastics, olympic weightlifting, martial arts, break dancing, parkour, climbing. Of course, dedicated stretching is going to be most effective of all, but doing some of these is better than nothing.
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