Channel Title: Kit Laughlin (Stretch Therapy) Channel Description: Posting clips from my local and international workshops; instructional videos on movement, flexibility, and strength; short segments from activities in the Monkey Gym at the Australian National University; and we will have segments from my new DVDs, too. Enjoy! <video> Upper body mobilising/limbering sequence Description: More courses and a huge amount of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. Mobilising, or limbering as the dance world would label it, can leave the body feeling absolutely magnificent, in particular the joints. It can also be used as a ‘warm-up’, or our preferred term ‘preparation' for a stretching session. This video explores the upper body (see contents below). This is the first part of a longer session we shot live on a 2016 workshop in the Monkey Gym at ST HQ in Greenwell Point, and this shows you a variety of bodies doing the movements. Contents: - Head and neck in all planes - Side bending - Shoulder girdle, moving to whole body - Elbows and wrists - Pelvic positioning (essential to understanding how to use the ST system) - Whole body twisting and circles The goal of moving from "merely" flexible to relaxed and supple has been discussed in detail on the ST Community Forums at kitlaughlin.com/forums/index.php?/topic/789-muscle-tension-and-flexibility/#comment-7591 </video> <video> Olivia Allnutt presents a free one-hour Intermediate-level class Description: More courses and a huge amount of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. This class** explores a variety of mobilisations for the hips, sumo squats, a standing 'triangle' hamstring stretch, the floor lunge, the seated floor piriformis exercise, and all spinal movements. In the 'diamond pose' sequence, if you wish to, place a cushion or rolled-up towel behind each leg's knee so the weight of your legs is supported. ** Apologies for the clothing 'rustle' in a couple of places; we're experimenting with microphones. </video> <video> New course available – Overcome Neck Pain Description: Head to https://stretchtherapy.net/premium-stretch-therapy-courses/overcome-neck-pain-course/ for a full course description. 😻 Special launch price AUD $79 availability extended until New Year's Day 😻 Learn the gentle stretching and relaxation exercises that will bring your body back into balance — and be pain free. Did you know? ☯️ Most recurring neck pain is caused by muscular imbalances and daily life habits. ☯️ Specific easy-to-learn stretching exercises can dramatically reduce pain while increasing mobility. ☯️ Adding the relaxation recording exercises supercharges the effects of the stretching. You will learn: ✅ How to identify, then re-balance the muscles that are causing you so much discomfort. ✅ How to relax deeply, and how to embody this in daily life. ✅ How to alleviate pain, stiffness and improve movement. ✅ How to feel and understand the signals your body is sending you. Comes with three new deep relaxation audio recordings, tailor-made to help you overcome neck pain! Please share this with your friends 😍 </video> <video> How to sit for meditation 60 minute follow along class Description: Having trouble sitting comfortably for long periods (meditation or any other similar practises)? This 60 minute, follow-along format, program takes you through all the exercises we have found to help the many people who have sat with us on retreats. The first few times you use the program, simply follow along—and once you have done this a few times, you'll know which are the most important exercises for you, and this becomes your personal practice. This subset of the whole program should only take 10–15 minutes, twice a week. Kit co-presents meditation retreats with Patrick Kearney in Australia and a number of Buddhist monasteries in Asia annually. This program is designed to help you sit in the "Burmese" position (one leg in front of the other, knees and thighs on the ground) or when using a sitting stool. How to sit in the *full lotus pose* (Padmasana) is covered in another tutorial: http://youtu.be/S8WxwDmDvBI Our Home page is here: http://stretchtherapy.net Enjoy! </video> <video> Explore spinal rotation and side-bending, toes, quads/hip flexors/abdominal muscles, and piriformis Description: For more in-depth tutorials please visit https://stretchtherapy.net/ Follow along with Olivia as she guides you through seated spinal rotation and lateral flexion (side bending); movements to increase mobility in the toes; positions to target quadriceps, hip flexors, and abdominal muscles; and, a surprisingly intense seated piriformis sequence. The entire session is done on a raised support – a couch, a bed, for example – and this support facilitates deep relaxation in each position. </video> <video> Suspended rotation Description: More courses and a ton of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. After blocking through the standard floor rotations, Olivia uses the 'mat pile' (a stack of stretching mats we keep in the corner of the studio) to demonstrate and explain the mechanics of this wonderful whole-spine rotation. As a side note, we recommend doing all the versions (links below) in a session because, depending on where you are movement-restricted or where you are holding tension, each rotation will affect different (sometimes _very_ different) parts of the spine. The beauty of the version Olivia demonstrates is that the hanging weight of the thigh suspended from the top of the pile holds the hips in position—and then you are able to move the whole of the rest of the spine *away* from the held hips. In addition, by adding a reaching action with the top arm, new sensations can be added. Directing your breathing into different parts of the waist and chest adds further dimensions and will change where you feel the effects. If you don't have a mat pile, a mattress works perfectly. 1. Spinal movements follow-along class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bz6137UdZE – this session includes the 'lying rotation' exercise. 2. Coffee table rotation: https://stretchtherapy.net/coffee-table-rotation/ </video> <video> Single leg squat variation Description: Do the exercise as slowly as you can in the beginning, and don't add any weight until you can do 30 reps (15 on each leg, in one continuous set). Concentrate on balance and smoothness. You will find that the knee of the working leg will need to move inwards (this is to achieve single-leg balance). Keep this movement controlled and feel how balance is being achieved. Very different to squatting on two legs! </video> <video> Announcing a 10-day sale at Stretch Therapy – it's on now! Description: Head to https://stretchtherapy.net/. Use coupon* BLACKFRIDAY21 at checkout to take an additional 21% off ALL products. Three video programs: - Starter Course - Mastery Course - Overcome Back Pain Course Kit's three books (PDF versions): - Overcome Neck & Back Pain - Stretching & Flexibility - Stretching & Pregnancy Please share this with your friends 😻 * Use the coupon as many times as you like! </video> <video> Remove tension from your neck, middle back, and abdomen Description: Do you hold tension in your neck, middle back, and/or abdomen? Who doesn’t, right? 😻 In this video Olivia guides you through a sequence of positions and movements that help her to relieve tension in these parts of her body. The main positions are the standing forward bend, the full squat, the lunge, and lying face up. For the forward bend and squat positions, if you prefer, by all means do these parts while sitting on a chair. Each of these fundamental positions will be familiar to many of you. The variety of movements shown are a result of Olivia exploring and playing with the basic positions, and feeling how often subtle changes in position change the feeling. We strongly encourage you to explore in this way – it is the path to finding out precisely what your body needs. </video> <video> Standing table hip flexor stretch Description: Olivia guides you through a standing table hip flexor stretch. First, a full demonstration of the exercise. Second, a detailed explanation of key elements of the stretch, which highlight important features of the Stretch Therapy system. In this demonstration, no contractions were included. Any of the usual contractions can, of course, be added – attempt to drag the back leg forward, for example. You may, however, find it reasonably difficult to breathe comfortably in this stretch, in particular to relaxedly exhale and really relax further into the stretch. If you do, we suggest moving slowly through the exercise and focus on breathing and relaxing, and work to make this a long-held exercise, which can be of similar intensity to a shorter version which incorporates contractions. A note from Kit. When he was learning this exercise it was the repeated re-tucking of the tail that was key for his body – you may find this is the case in your body, too. </video> <video> Kit Laughlin presents a free, one-hour, Beginner-level Stretch Therapy class Description: More courses and a huge amount of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. Today's class would be part of a mid-term Beginner's course (so, week 7, let's say, out of 14) in the way we used to run them over the 27 years we taught at the Australian National University. In other words, the basics are assumed; the student's connection to the sensations in the body becoming more coherent; and the use of contractions to loosen tight parts. The class begins with really efficient hamstring and hip flexor stretches, each using two different contractions, and because we fold up the back leg in this version, quadriceps are also given a direct stretch. Next is a floor quadriceps stretch, also with two contractions, and a novel way of stretching quadriceps but without extending the lower back is shown. This is followed by two side bends. Ideal spinal positioning is suggested. Then we move to the wall, and the pectoralis major ("pec. major") and biceps brachii ("biceps") stretches are shown, each with their contractions. The last exercise on the wall is the cat stretch, and its contraction is explained, too. The 16 minute relaxation segment ends the class. The audio of the relaxation part of the class is available free from: https://supplementary-material.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Kit-beginner-class-%232-Relaxation+audio-MP3.mp3 </video> <video> Intermediate Stretch Therapy class – includes a breathing practice Description: More courses and a ton of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. Olivia presents an Intermediate-level class. Most of the body is worked in this session, with a focus on neck, jaw, and throat, and ankles and calves in preparation for the full squat position and a modified Cossack squat sequence. Of course, there's a hip flexor stretch, too! The class ends with lying, directed breathing. This one hour 'live to disk' class with Liv is the closest thing to being in the room with a teacher, and no editing and NO ADS (we decided to not "monetize" a long time ago). Happy New Year to everyone, and we hope this one's better than the last two. </video> <video> Solo pec minor stick stretch Description: More courses and a ton of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. Liv demonstrates the best solo version of one of Stretch Therapy's most popular stretches, the partner chest stick stretch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mPbEggRY_k&t=1s). She demos the solo version on a straight bar at a school playground, and a version in the Monkey Gym, using a set of Roman rings and a stick. All of these are truly excellent stretches for pec. minor, the muscle responsible for rounded shoulders and in some people, the 'head-forward' posture. </video> <video> Remove throat tension Description: More courses and a ton of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. This video guides you through a powerful sequence to release all tension from your throat and front neck muscles, followed by a marvellous middle/upper back release. The throat movement involves neck extension (taking your head back) – if you are not familiar with this movement, we recommend you start with this gentler sequence: Easy-to-do effective neck stretches | flexion and extension https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjOa9vkKRWU For the throat sequence, we have used a voice over – you’ll see why 😻. </video> <video> Beginner Stretch Therapy class – includes a lying relaxation practice Description: More courses and a ton of free, relevant information available at https://stretchtherapy.net. Kit presents a Beginner-level class, with 45 minutes stretching and a 15-minute lying relaxation to finish. The theme is the 'Three Necks' (oriental wisdom talks about the ankles, wrists, and the neck as "the three necks", and these are the three places in the body which tend to get stiffer more quickly as we age). This one hour 'live to disk' class with Kit is the closest thing to being in the room with a teacher, and no editing and NO ADS (we decided to not "monetize" a long time ago). Happy new year to everyone, and we hope this one's better than the last two. </video>

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Posting clips from my local and international workshops; instructional videos on movement, flexibility, and strength; short segments from activities in the Monkey Gym at the Australian National University; and we will have segments from my new DVDs, too. Enjoy!

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