Yoga - Tight Hamstrings and Glutes

[Guest guest]

It seems everyone is concerned with increasing hamstring flexibility. My

question is why and for what purpose? Where is a great amount of hamstring

flexibility needed in sports or in everyday activities? Tighter hamstrings for

many individuals may be better as they will not allow the pelvic girdle to tilt

forward excessively creating swayback, a common problem that we see today. Of

course, the hamstrings cannot be overly tight as they will then flatten the

lumbar curve which is equally detrimental.

I believe we should be selective in stretching the hamstrings and then only when

it is truly needed. There is no need to stretch for the sake of stretching. In

the long run, you may overstretch the ligaments, especially when static

stretching is done, which then creates a looser joint more prone to injury.

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Yessis, Ph.D

President, Sports Training, Inc.

www.dryessis.com

PO Box 460429

Escondido, CA 92046

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