Assisted Stretching is a Great Cool Down and Gives Your Sessions a Personal Touch
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By Sal | November 25, 2009
One of the first things that I learned at PlusOne Fitness Clinic in Manhattan during my training over 20 years ago was the importance of great assisted stretching period, and to this day I finish all of my sessions with this hands on flexibility work. From just about every angle assisted stretching is a great thing to do for your clients; the clients love it, it helps them cool down, it improves flexibility, it allows you to get some tactile feedback on the state of your clients' flexibility and did I mention that the clients love it?
Feel free to incorporate any of your favorite stretches into the routine. I've hit on a routine that people really enjoy, but as with many aspects of your training sessions, you have to experiment and go with what you feel is best and what your clients like.
Over the years some research has indicated that static stretching is less-than-effective in certain cases, and this may or may not be true. However, assisted stretching doesn't have to be static, and even if it is, static stretching is quite effective when used in the appropriate context, like for a post-workout cool down.
At the beginning of a session, static stretching can be used if you transition using movements such as calisthenics before moving into more dynamic flexibility movements. And certainly, at the conclusion of a session static stretching can be an effective technique, assisted or not.
But for a moment lets forget about all of these technical reasons why people can benefit from assisted stretching, and focus on the most important reason for including this form of flexibility work into your sessions; the clients love it! The assisted stretch period gives your clients the chance to feel like they're being indulged. I say to my clients, "Now we're at the point of the session where your participation and effort are no longer required." After being put through the wringer - or grinder, if you will - clients deserve a little down time and a chance to relax, and the assisted stretch period affords them this opportunity. I also use this time to review a bit of what we did in the session, talk about our upcoming sessions or to just shoot the breeze and get out of the whole seriousness of mood that can dominate a difficult training session.
Incorporate an assisted stretch period into your workouts and give your clients the chance to really enjoy the personal aspects of working with a personal trainer.
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