At Center of Balance, we apply resistance stretching to our private training sessions and class offerings. To move well, we need an appropriate amount of counter tension to hold our body in correct form. Resistance stretching focuses on matching flexibility with strength. This means you stretch your muscles only as far as you can contract them simultaneously. Active contraction of muscles in a lengthened position helps the body become more flexible, strong and stable. This approach to stretching also helps protect you from injury because you take a stretch only as far as you can match your range of motion with your strength. You keep your joints, tendons and ligaments from taking the load, thus preventing injury.
Some of the benefits of resistance stretching include:
- Greater balance
- Improved flexibility and strength
- Deeper understanding of how to work within your muscular range of motion
- Improved breathing
- Increased self-awareness
- Reduction of pain and tension from the body
