Gymnastics Stretching
Build strength and flexibility
for powerful gymnastics
14 Peaks Inc
Copyright 2018 14 PEAKS
Gymnastics Stretching
All rights reserved.
Published by 14 Peaks
Edited and formatted by 14 Peaks
Models: Avery Hagler, Heather Wash
ISBN-13: 978-1719180757
ISBN-10: 171918075X
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the authors.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Flexibility is to a gymnast like swimming to a fish. Beautiful graceful gymnast display great flexibility and aesthetically pleasing lines. This purpose of this book is to focus on flexibility for those beautiful poses displayed in gymnastics. However, and this is key, with that flexibility must come strength. Gymnastics is about becoming strong with that flexibility.
There are several tools that can help with gymnastics flexibility and strength. A few of these are the Ballet Stretch Band, a Leg Stretcher (goes over the door) and a Gymnastics Strength Band. This book is a combination of the three. Choose from the different tools depending on your goals. These three tools are an indinibl mnnt of a gymnasts stretching regimen. Harnessing the wr f elastic and static bands while being lightweight and portable, these tools are a great way to increase
flexibility in a fun and dynamic way. The Ballet Stretch Band and the Leg Stretcher will work on passive flexibility while the Gymnastics Strength Band will work on flexibility and strength in active stretching.
In our book Stretching Your Limits, there are over 30 Ballet Stretch Band stretches, and in our book Stretching Your Limits 2 , there are over 30 stretches for the Leg Stretcher. This book will cover those lightly but will mainly focus on the Gymnastics Strength Band, because in addition to gaining strength while stretching, one will gain flexibility.
While increasing flexibility, u will l want t strengthen the mul rnibl for holding the stretched limbs. This helps prevent injury and as a bonus makes your gymnastics more powerful. The Ballet Stretch Band and the Leg Stretcher come into play because passive stretching will be important on the off days. In fact, passive stretching can be done every day!
The intent of this book, strength gains while stretching, takes a unique combination of flexibility and strength. This is the beauty of combining workout equipment. One is not better . They can work in unison.
Chapter 1
Gymnastics Flexibility
While the Ballet Stretch Band and the Leg Stretcher are very powerful tools, we will start off with the the Gymnastics Strength Band. Our first two books focus on the Leg Stretcher, and the Ballet Stretch Band therefore we will only go over those briefly and if you need more details please refer to our first books in the series.
The Ballet Stretch Band and the Leg Stretcher can be purchased on Amazon.com and the Gymnastics Strength Band is a tool that can be made at home or purchased on A mazon. Using lti as ritn, the Gymnastics Strength Band imrv flexibility while simultaneously strengthening mul. Balance is enhanced as well. There are many flexibility enhancers on the market that are great. However, this one is specifically for enhancing poses with power. It targets exact stretches that are utilized in gymnastics.
Being able to mimic the exact movements specific to gymnastics helps with muscle memory, making it easier to remember and execute the movements. If you watched the Olympic medalist Simone Biles on Dancing with the Stars , she stated this fact over and over. When asked how she did so well and how she remembered all the choreography, she would smile her big smile and answer, muscle memory. The brain actually creates new myelin sheaths allowing you to remember these moves for years to come.
Because the Gymnastics Strength Band uses lti resistance similar to those who work out with strength bands, it also inr mul strength. Those strength gains are specific to the muscles you choose to utilize in the movements. A the band trth, ritn inr, providing a stimulus to the mul. This not only builds strength and flexibility, but proprioception as you balance. Many believe that strength is actually what makes you more flexible, and that makes this a dual threat.
Lets dive a little deeper into the strength portion as many believe this is what makes you more flexible. Training with lti ritn provides a variable resistance throughout the trth or xri, eliminating the ibilit of using momentum and cheating your way through the movement. Working against this ritn forces the mul t rnd with inrd ffrt, which promotes the dvlmnt of muulr growth, strength and wr.
The Leg Stretcher on the other hand does not build strength, though it is great for building flexibility. You use your arms to pull your leg into certain positions.
The Leg Stretcher uses passive stretching. The Gymnastics Strength Band is active stretching. They both have their place as you would not use the Gymnastics Strength Band, which is training strength, every day as your muscles would break down. However, you can do passive stretching daily, which is what the Leg Stretcher provides. Combined, they work great and can be an excellent addition to your gymnastics training routine.