Bendy Myth: It's normal to have pain when stretching.

Sharp, pinching, burning, and tingling sensations are NOT normal when stretching. Stretching should feel good, not painful!

It's one thing to have productive uncomfortability, but you should never be in pain when stretching or even post-workout (this is different from workout soreness, scabs forming from too many chin stands, etc.)

You can ask yourself, 'If I hold this longer will it help me or hurt me?' If you feel like it's going to hurt you, come out. Reassess what sensations you're feeling and think about which muscle/body groups should feel the stretch versus what you're feeling. If you focus on correct form and alignment, it will solve pieces of your problem. Still, I recommend seeking professional medical advice and seeing a PT if your pain is persistent in a movement pattern.

The most common issue I see and hear about is lower back pain after back bending. This is NOT OK! It's most likely a problem stemming from only bending from one spot in your back - not recruiting glutes, hips, middle back, upper back, and overhead shoulder mobility to work evenly for a round backbend. If this is you, I teach online group classes and individual privates. Hit me up in DM for more information, and/or I can help connect you to other great coaches and resources!

What are your thoughts on this topic/rant of mine?

#bendymyth #contortion #splits #backbend #everydayisgluteday