Run Run Away

Question:

Hi there, I want to start stretching before running. My legs are so inflexible. Any books or Web sites you’d recommend for stretching?

Response:

voila:  http://kicksports.com/good/stretch.shtml — ===== Bernard    - o    <_ (_)/(_)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there, I want to start stretching before running. My legs are so inflexible. Any books or Web sites you’d recommend for stretching?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – voila:  http://kicksports.com/good/stretch.shtml — ===== Bernard    - o    <_ (_)/(_) Hi there, I want to start stretching before running. My legs are so inflexible. Any books or Web sites you’d recommend for stretching?

From a post of mine sometime back:

 I have to say something positive about Ozzie’s web pages for stretching. I used to read and attempt to read the famous book about stretching by a mr. anderson… I have it someplace, but Ozzie’s stretches seem far more simplier and appropriate than that Stretching manifesto of about 20 years ago… Over 200,000 sold or something like was the subtitle. That family went on to make money also in the aquabags for runners field….I forget the name of their brand but you’ve all heard of it (I have a cheaper Platypus type.) but I have my doubts about their claims for their stretching techniques. I find Ozzie’s far more useful and appropriate to runners.

Dave, Thanks for the kind words. The stuff I talk about and do is really pre-stretching.  It’s learning how to loosen muscle tissue and fascia so that you can start to practice proper posture while at the same time stretching properly. Bob and Jeanne Anderson have been friends since the late 70’s, and I think it’s more than a million copies.  He has always focused on making sure that people did stretching correctly. His message has been delivered for over 25 years teaching moderation and practice, practice, practice…  In my words – Life’s one continuous big stretch-Mind/Body/Spirit. The problem is that most people stretch but don’t think about what they are stretching.  The result is that they strain or over stretch muscles.  They mistakenly think because they can feel the stretch, they’re doing a better job of stretching. What I always liked and still like about Bob is that he lives stretching and is aware of what’s going on as he takes his body and that of anyone listening or watching through stretching. What I also liked about Bob was that from the beginning he was there for the average runner.  He would go to any running club or group for expenses and a little honorarium.  But more often it was done as a favor to friends who had met him along the road that stretched in front of them. His books and tapes are at:   http://www.stretching.com Also the work of Aaron Mattes has reached a lot of people.  He has truly worked miracles through laying on of his hands and assisting people regain a sense of the proper movement their body had forgotten. Here’s Aaron’s information and web site where you can get his books and tapes: Active Isolated Stretching Aaron Mattes 2828 Clark Road Suite 4 Sarasota, Florida 34231 Phone: (941) 924-0462 Fax: (941) 925-8530 Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM Closed Sat/Sun http://www.kudos.net/mattes/ His work has been popularized by two of his students:  Jim and Phil Wharton Anyway, Bob and Aarron are two people who have given and given and given…and continue to give.   As Aaron said, his techniques are different than Bob’s but knowing all that Bob has done to teach stretching he has nothing but admiration for him and his continued giving to all athletes to learn to stretch properly. Also I know several situations where people have taken advantage of, used or taken their work and never acknowledged nor given them any financial compensation.  But hey we say, it’s the capitalistic way.  Somehow I don’t believe in those values that would not consider benefiting the source where one’s livelihood started. Anyway that’s me getting  on my high horse. Sorry.  As James Hillman says, everyone needs something to rail against. As for me, I have no vested financial interest in supporting these two people and their work. Let it be known that they have had the GAPO Good Bodykeeping Seal of Approval since I was first exposed to them and their work.   There are numerous athletes and non-athletes who know Bob and Aarron and thank them for what they have received in regards to the rewards of stretching in their personal and professional lives.   Like you Dave and all the others here on rec.running I am grateful for the openness and willingness to share your folklore and personal knowledge and wisdom.  In the broader community I feel the same way towards Bob and Aarron, who like the rec.running community are my friends. And that even includes someone who will go unnamed, Laurel Amberdine jesters and servants of rec.running touched me.   My wife and daughters have been saying that for years about not making sense. I wonder if it’s genetic: Filipino Pollack thing – hard headed, stubborn, righteous but really a nice person. This view might be reflected in the T-Shirt that the Marathon Clinic gave me years ago: "I must hurry up and catch them, for I am their leader."   I realize that I just look at things differently and want to make sense out of what people know that just ain’t so. — In health and on the run, Ozzie Gontang Maintainer – rec.running FAQ http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-newsgroup/rec/rec.running.html Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est. 1975 Mindful Running http://www.mindfulness.com/mr.asp

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