Almost threw out my back doing a simple hip stretch on the living room floor

I was in my living room right after work last Tuesday, trying to do a basic pigeon pose from a yoga video. My hip felt super tight so I leaned into it a bit too hard and my lower back seized up. Instantly started sweating and had to crawl to the couch. Sat there for 15 minutes just trying to breathe through it. How do you know when a stretch is too far without actually getting hurt? Has anyone else ruined a stretch by pushing too hard?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_burns961d ago

Oh, I have been there. A few years ago I tried to show off how flexible I was getting into a deep lunge and my back just announced it was done for the day. It is a horrible feeling, that instant sweat and knowing you messed up. The best advice I ever got was to never force a stretch past a 6 out of 10 on the discomfort scale, if it's sharp or makes your muscles shake you have gone too far.

william8161d ago

Learned that one the hard way myself. That instant sweat is real. Forcing a stretch past where it feels right just asks for trouble. Now I stop the second I feel that sharp edge. No more showing off. Stretching should feel good, not like a warning sign.