Stretching for Growth
Hey Fellas, I hope everybody is doing well and your workouts are providing you with the gains you desire.
As we navigate this process, we should always make sure to identify and avoid fads and focus our attention strictly on proven practices. One highly-proven practice that is often overlooked is stretching. I am a huge believer is stretching, but today, I would like to focus more specifically on FASCIAL STRETCHING. If you haven’t heard of this before, you’re not alone. These days, we’re flooded with an endless supply bullshit from internet “gurus” looking to become celebrities – it’s nauseating.
The
practice of fascial stretching has actually been around for decades.
What is the fascia, you may ask? Think of the muscle “fascia” as a very
tight, fibrous tissue that wraps around the muscle – similar to shrink
wrap. By focusing our efforts on stretching the fascia, we are not only
allowing for an increase in our flexibility, but an increase in muscle
size (we’re clearing space for the muscle to grow) – it’s a Win-Win
situation.
If you haven’t heard of John Parrillo, I suggest you get to know this man. His contributions to the sport of bodybuilding span several decades and he developed more specific methods for targeting the fascia. I was first introduced to John Parrillo in the early 90’s and let me tell you, his fascial stretching techniques are no joke. Incorporating these techniques into my routine made a tremendous impact on my development.
Fascial stretching can be applied to almost every muscle group. Today, I would like to share with you my three favorite fascia stretching techniques:
Stretching the Chest:
Stretching the Lats:
Stretching the Legs:
Incorporate fascial stretching AFTER the workout, when your muscles are fully pumped. This action will help stretch the fascia beyond the stretch it receives from the pump. Start slow with these stretches with only 2-3 seconds at a time, eventually working up to 10-30 seconds per stretch. Once you get accustomed to these stretches, you can also perform them in between sets. You can perform these stretches on your own or with a competent training partner.
Don’t sell yourself short by working out and then just walking out of the gym… Incorporate a serious stretching routine to unleash your full growth potential!
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