Group: Health & Fitness over 40

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 206, Messages: 2480

Group dedicated to men and women over the age of 40 that care about their health and want to take the fitness and nutrition down the right path.

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Flexibility Stretching

PamCan
PamCan
Posts: 24
Joined: 2004/04/09
United States
2004/04/09, 01:43 PM
Hi all,
I just joined this fantastic site, have my strength training schedule in hand(literally), plan on continuing my cardio 1hr 3xweek (step-aerobics video's) and adding the recommended 3xweek weights - am know wondering what I should to to increase my flexibility - I have Winsor Pilates tapes - will that be enough 2 or 3 x week for 20mins, should I consider Yoga or something else? So many questions....:)

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
Pam
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/04/13, 11:00 AM
Stretching after your workouts while your muscles/ligaments/etc. are warm and supple will help increase your flexibility.
Yoga will help. Pilates more builds your core stregth, but some flexibility is required for pikes nd such, so it won't hurt.

Flexibility is part of a well-rounded program and is like everything else, it improves with consistency and effort (but don't stretch to pain_.

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If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
PamCan
PamCan
Posts: 24
Joined: 2004/04/09
United States
2004/04/13, 12:54 PM
I did my first workout yesterday and used my 20min. Pilates first as my warm-up - not a good idea?
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/04/13, 03:53 PM
I would do th pilates after so that your core isn't fatigued before you lift. your core is recruited during stregth training and is needed for stabiliy. typing wih a cat on my lap, plz excuse the typos

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If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
PamCan
PamCan
Posts: 24
Joined: 2004/04/09
United States
2004/04/14, 08:45 AM
Totally understand - doing my pushups off my knees last night and one of our cats decided my belly made a nice tent - I'm a beginner as it as, but it's really hard to do push-ups when you're laughing. :)

Thanks for the advice, I'll move the pilates to after the strength.

asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2004/04/14, 12:05 PM
My cat used to come and sit on my chest when I was bench pressing - my husband would holler about it, but I saw it as a sort of zen thing.

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If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
PamCan
PamCan
Posts: 24
Joined: 2004/04/09
United States
2004/04/14, 12:27 PM
I think they just like to be involved in whatever we're doing - my husband gets concerned if I pick up weights when any of the cats are around, especially the one with me last night - he hand-raised her from a 24hr orphan - you can imagine what she means to him:love:

I guess this isn't really the right forum for this so... back to checking the boards for tips - so many and people on this forum seem to be wonderfully friendly and helpful - have yet to post and not get an answer - a helpful one too:)