subject: David Wayne Fish On The Importance Of Variety In Stretching Exercises [print this page] According to David Wayne Fish, one of the most respected fitness trainers in Hollywood, people need not confine themselves to either static or ballistic stretching while working out. Static stretching refers to stretching exercises that require a person to keep a certain position for a specific amount of time. Ballistic stretching requires a person to perform a bouncing movement prior to keeping a stretching position. Ballistic stretching is considered the more dangerous of the two, and fitness trainers tend to require this only from client athletes. Ballistic stretching can give individuals the kind of flexibility that only extreme sports demand they have. If an individual is not generally involved with such activities, then ballistic stretching is not worth the risk.
When the body performs the same routine again and again, its muscles become saturated with such movements and become unable to improve. To prevent this from happening, one should try different types of workouts from time to time. This definitely includes stretching, says David Wayne Fish. If a person has been performing static stretching exercises for the entire month, he can try something else for the next month. One other type of stretching that is just as easy would be passive stretching. The positions that this type of stretching requires is exactly the same with those used for static stretching. The only difference is that passive stretching requires either the use of equipment or the presence of a stretching or workout partner.
Dynamic stretching on the other hand is more about self-discipline and control. When performing this type of exercise, David Wayne Fish advises people to mentally focus their energies first. This type of stretching requires a person to take full control of his movements rather than allowing his body to dictate them. Another type would be active isolated stretching. Simply known as AI stretching by some, it requires individuals to maintain positions that not only stretch the muscles but demand an exercise or display of the individuals strength as well. A simple stretching exercise can have a person raising his leg. With AI stretching, however, the person must lift his leg up and stretch it to its full length and maintained for 15 seconds at the most.
