Stiff to Flexible - 5 things I would do DIFFERENTLY

Are you overcoming a stiff body? Looking to get flexibile? Having trouble stretching? I come from absolute stiffness and I've been working on my flexibility for 5 years. This is what I would do Different if I were to begin now.
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IG: Mitch_Hash
0:00 Intro
0:46 Passive stretching
2:00 End range training
3:27 Corrective exercise
5:53 Loaded stretching
7:56 Strength training + flexibility
What didn't work for me was Passive Stretching and End Range Training. Both were high intensity and low reward.
What did work for me was Corrective Exercise, Loaded Stretching, and Strength Training combined with Flexibility.
This is how my body reacted to training when I was incredibly stiff. Keep in mind that yours may act differently, so this is not a rule book. Take it with a grain of salt and try things out on your body.

[@artofopening]

What mistakes have you made and what have you learned about flexibility for your body?

[@artofopening]

And thank you to all my recent subscribers! I appreciate your support and encouragement. I hope to do the same for you with my weekly content.

[@YoungChia]

I sure hope it does cause he just got another sub, keep it up bud!

[@Tweston3ny]

Can’t stretch the psoas. Golgi tendon organ, stretch reflex, PNF, structural integration, fascia, and pressure points.

[@user-lv3py5vm6i]

I jumped into these youtube mobility workouts that I was in no way ready for. Especially hip mobility stuff - jacked up my hips pretty good by trying to force mobility on muscles that were weak and tight lol. Don't do it !!!

[@donaldmushove]

The greatest mistake I made was to stop for close to 13years, am now as stiff as no man's business

[@fredfredrickson5436]

The passive stretching of yin yoga, which involves holding each position for 3-6 minutes, yielded amazing results for me. But it was incredibly intense until I freed up the blockages. The trick to overcoming this hurdle of intensity lies in mindful relaxation and leaning deeply into the meditative aspect of the practice through focus on correct breathing technique.

[@artofopening]

This has been it for me lately. I made this video years ago, but now the relaxation stuff has been the best.

[@michaelgibson7213]

I do both types and have yielded great benefits from each. For me, adding a 30-lb or 50-lb sandbag, ball, bands, or bar-assisted deep squats helped me increase my range of motion.

[@taryn4123]

And not pushing into any pain or pinching. Relax and breathe at your edge.

[@borgullet3376]

Yes Michael !! I just started sitting in an Asian Squat. Banded theighs and sitting on a very, very low stool. Back almost straight and then hands up high and leaning forward. Opened up my QL & Psoas. FINALLY🙏

[@luukh.1848]

Any good resources to practise Yin Yoga?

[@robdixson196]

The thing with passive is it is just that passive. When i find myself in an uncomfortable awkward position throughout the day I take note of it and hang out there passively for a few seconds. If you are a stiff person you will find this happens A LOT. All pf these micro stretches addd up quick through a somewhat active day.

[@iorekby]

A very simple thing I've done that has done wonders for my flexibility: Sit less, stand more. Seriously. I work from home a lot, so I moved my laptop to a tall chest of drawers (about chest height). I am making a standing desk. I have noticed I am a lot looser at the end of the day. Might not work for everyone but certainly helped me.

[@ByronTexas]

Your body will adjust to what’s asked of it. If your limb positions and joints’ locations (relative to each other) is minimal or don’t change much, ie: hours of sitting and hours of lying, that’s what your body will adjust to

[@ryanbellegrave9777]

Legitimately the best explanation I’ve ever read for stiffness. Variety of motion and movement will require the body to stay fluid and not static. Fantastic comment, thank you 👏

[@Gkuljian]

I have waited years for this video. I want to share my story, but this is just a youtube comment. I started stretching at 52, and I'm now 65. I did mobility work for hours every single day. I toughed it out, and have little to show for it. I've just started to get enough mobility to begin doing what you're talking about. So now I know the right direction. Thank you!!! I'm going to watch every one of your videos. This is important to me because you are also as stiff as I was, so you actually experienced it too. This is going to send me down a new path. Yay.

[@onetrue217]

Good luck to you. May I recommend Kit Laughlin’s Strecththerapy website and their Starter Course. It’s a really nice comprehensive beginner stretch course

[@datamonster3212]

This channel is pure gold, so relatable! You deserve a million subs!

[@charlesmuller120]

Algo brought me here. Your vibe is great. I'm working on my flexibility after 30 years of neglect. Subscribed!

[@artofopening]

Good luck!

[@willtomove]

I think this is my favorite style of video yet. And look at you go!! 340 subscribers! Hell yeah!!

[@artofopening]

Thanks Will! Bit of a bump from 25 eh?

[@ek3773]

Thanks for the insight! You're doing a great job with this channel 👍

[@artofopening]

I appreciate it greatly!

[@yeraysosatrujillo5085]

This channel is pure gold. I'm sure you will have the amount of subscribers that you definitely deserve. Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences. Greetings from Switzerland! 💪

[@artofopening]

Thanks for the words my friend 👊

[@greenentrepreneurs]

Working at raised up desk while standing on Bellicon rebounder (dynamic surface) supports more fluidity and flow in all aspects of my body-especially lower. Appreciate this clip. Thanks so much.

[@shantanu.t]

Amazing!! Many thanks! This is exactly what my intuition and weak lower body has been crying out for.

[@user-jh7wc4tu1p]

Good stuff. Thanks mate

[@alexjcorona2605]

The corrective exercises have been the most crucial method for me and where I've seen the most improvement. Realising how weak you are in these new ranges of motion, because you never go into them. I learnt that from looking at how dancers trained. The way they could hold their leg out in these positions that for me would be stretching already. My biggest issue personally has been trying to not compensate with the flexibility in my mid to upper back. Because I started doing all these floorwork and capoeira exercises, my body was naturally compensating more and more to get me into these movements, and so my mid and upper back would just round more and more, while my hamstrings and lower back stayed tight, and got weaker and weaker. Swallowing that pride of going back to absolute baseline basics of making sure I could keep my middle back from rounding while doing these stretches and dynamic moves.

[@artofopening]

Swallowing the pride. Exactly. I had a similar realization at one point, realizing I should be able to do certain things with my body that I just can’t. Glad to hear about your journey. Keep it movin man.

[@chriswhite3006]

Thanks for making this video!

[@RoySkeen-cj3qz]

Great video bro!

[@jeffknighton5707]

I'm 60 and my hip flexors and hamstring are very stiff. This video inspired me to get more proactive and serious with becoming more flexible. THANK YOU.

[@artofopening]

You got it!

[@kurtsinger8573]

Thank you for sharing.

[@kassiahowell6107]

Thanks for this!

[@theoneeyedkangaroo]

Great advices !

[@loaded6856]

Thanks you getting amazing results!

[@artofopening]

Gracias Jacob. Trainin daily.

[@skiatauli]

Wonderful. That handstand is so clean......

[@mrg5763]

Awesome growth mindset. Great video as I'm just now starting my flexibility journey. Big thanks for the inspiration and tips

[@kmrk4055]

Just about to start thanks for sharing.

[@oliverjames9922]

You break this down so even a non native speaker can follow you, very honest with your experience too. Thanks for sharing!

[@artofopening]

This is exactly what I’m shooting for. Thanks man

[@lezleyneill]

Have been following you guys for a while now and love what you're doing. This video is full of great tips. I have been practicing yoga for 25+ years and still have stiff hips and shoulders! In Hatha yoga we hold a lot of our stretches, so a static position. We would incorporate micro movements within a stretch, so while holding the posture, breathe in and each time you breathe out, try to go a little further into the stretch. I the idea of repetition, only holding for a few seconds before repeating. Going to try this and see if it improved my hip and shoulder flexibility.

[@tqbrowne]

Have the same body type as you! Thanks for the video

[@trevortabaka4754]

Great video. I’m in a similar place as you were. To the point I’ve learned a lot and come to similar conclusions. Just have to make a plan and be consistent now. It’s intimidating when you understand the time and discipline it takes.

[@artofopening]

I hear that. When you realize it's going to take years of consistent training... The good thing is that you know it works. So if you can think about 5 years from now of consistent work, you'll be in a much different place. That keeps me going weekly.

[@brandbryce]

thanks, that was useful!

[@afonsodiniz8711]

Great video,congrats🤙 Next can you talk about handstand progression? I have dificulties to hold mine, I only can do it walking forward

[@artofopening]

Certainly can talk about that. Check out The Handstandcast if you like podcasts. They've helped me a lot.

[@johnk8174]

Thanks!

[@kevinlui8601]

Great Content! Like you said at the beginning.. these takes months and months even years to truly comprehend how our body works~

[@artofopening]

So long haha

[@davidlancaster7063]

Thanks 👍

[@yalekohli9554]

Super good content

[@MichaelGraboyes]

This video is gonna change my life. Thank you!

[@artofopening]

Cheers!

[@OceanTrader]

Thanks for sharing man, I have been trying to get more flexible for some 3-4 years now, and have been failing similarly, albeit some slow progress. I have similar body shape and would consider myself stiff. I will implement some of your advice and see how it goes. Cheers!

[@swingyouth2749]

Thank you! I have a similar physique to you; I'm kind lanky, and very stiff in all the places you mentioned. It's really comforting to see a video from a guy like me on this topic. I'm near the start of my flexibility journey, so this was perfect

[@artofopening]

Good luck on your journey 🙏

[@zexstation8815]

I love your principles so much. Thank you.

[@artofopening]

Thank you 🙏

[@eundongpark1672]

Ok. I'm going to try this out.

[@footballtutorialz]

Quality content 🔥

[@artofopening]

Appreciate that.

[@qsyj]

thank you ❤

[@kellerabteil]

thanks 🙏

[@gtournakis]

Thank U man

[@jettnash5217]

This video was super helpful, especially the non-worked muscle bit! I can easily plant my hand on the floor but tried a fire hydrant as described and by god my ROM is pathetic!

[@slaveskaterlv]

Thank you!

[@artofopening]

Thank YOU

[@sheelapatel9719]

Awesome thank you 🙏🏽

[@artofopening]

Thanks 🙏

[@LenkaSaratoga]

💚👍 thank you so much Very informative and comprehensive. Appreciate it!

[@artofopening]

Thanks :)

[@matttcameron_]

Strength at every length baby haha. Strengthening through the entire range of motion has been a big help for me and I’ve recently started adding weight and doing reps. Basically just using the mussels that are tight. I’ve been doing a lot of bear crawls for my hamstrings and I can almost get my heels to the ground during a downward dawg now.

[@artofopening]

Hell ya! Magic.

[@funnystories77]

Interesting. I am a fan of static stretching with long hold times. I would observe that if a stretch is held for say a minute or more; then stretch the corresponding other muscles (longer versus shorter); then coming back to the original stretch it seems deeper.

[@takeyourvitaminl]

In passive stretching, we inhibit muscle function. The key is to stay contracted in the soft tissues while moving through full concentric, isometric and eccentric ranges of motion. If the force leaves the muscle belly and fascial tissues, it has to go somewhere… and that somewhere is tendon, ligament and joints.

[@jeff_lamp5471]

You are awesome

[@pete6891]

great stuff man! i found lowering weight and going full range of motion in my weight training increased my mobility immensely! edit: especially focusing on slowing down the eccentric part of each movement, getting that deep stretch. You can built muscle with less weight, decreasing chance of injury as well.

[@artofopening]

Love that. I’ve found the same!

[@danmurraypiano]

Great video thank you ! Are you related to the guys at strength side? I feel its very similar style and you sound/look like them even 😅

[@Knud451]

Thanks for sharing. This is really good info. Can you recommend other loaded stretches for the adductors, besides the tailor pose?

[@artofopening]

Depending on your level you can do a standing middle split isometric. I also think a frog with contractions or Cossack squats could get it done.

[@Knud451]

@@artofopening great, thanks a lot!

[@complexelectra]

StrengthSide bros have a triplet!

[@user-lv3py5vm6i]

subscribing as I found the same thing! Funny part is we are actually built about the same. Relatively tall, skinny, and long legged. I got into trying to get more flexible for motocross and my running habit really tightened things up. Will have to check out your other videos.

[@artofopening]

Good luck amigo

[@sebastienortic]

Great

[@mikeslatz4026]

I currently do a full body compound movement lift routine on M/W/F, and some core stuff like loaded carries and planks on T/Th. Would you recommend adding the corrective exercises / loaded stretches on M/W/F or T/Th? Thanks

[@klf153]

This is very useful and informative for me -- thank you! (80 yo woman seeking to retain/improve function and flexibility)

[@artofopening]

Good luck on your journey :)

[@brucehelppie6119]

thanks for this. i'm stiff as a board and am trying to loosen up. your ideas appear to be sound.

[@bbetros]

Random question, how tall are you ? Btw great video man, been looking for ways to improve my flexibility and mobility. Glad I found your channel. Just subscribed

[@artofopening]

6’5”

[@alexebenoit]

Do you suggest to get stronger first? Before training flexibility? Or both at the same time?

[@artofopening]

I would try both at the same time. Observe which is giving you the most progress. A good way to think about that is - what feels the most productive as I’m doing it?

[@anaselidrissi3162]

great content! how often do you stretch?

[@artofopening]

Good question. I stretch intensely 4x per week. 2 days for middle split and 2 days for front split. I could probably get away with a little less of intense stretching but I'm pushing it right now. On off days I still "stretch" but it's lighter and not pushing range of motion. More like exploration.

[@anaselidrissi3162]

@@artofopening thanks for the answer. I would realy like to see the videos of those stretching routines.. keep up the good work!!

[@artofopening]

I will do another Vlog style video soon to show. Thanks for the kick to do so.

[@yalekohli9554]

I say the ‘valuable-ness’ of your vids is on the same level as strength side

[@artofopening]

The valuable-ness of this comment is MUCH. Gracias.

[@rowanationer]

Agree, dude, the value is comparable

[@mightbefire]

I spend most of this video trying to figure out if you were the second guy from Strengthside

[@artofopening]

Did you figure it out?

[@mightbefire]

@@artofopening honestly, only after I watched a new video and saw you still had short hair. grow your hair out and it's tricky. your vibes are so similar. and to a great extent, your message.

[@anaselidrissi3162]

one more question . i want to train the front split 2 times a week and the middle split 2 time a week but i was wondering if it is a good idea to train the pancake 2 time a week. is it to much or do you recomend combining the pancake with the middle split.

[@artofopening]

I’d combine it with either front split or middle split depending on if you feel more stretch in the hamstrings or the adductors when you do the pancake. If adductors, middle split day. If hamstrings, front split day. Just my thoughts

[@anaselidrissi3162]

@@artofopening thanks i will do that!!

[@artofopening]

@@anaselidrissi3162 Cool. Stay in touch!

[@tomekw6598]

Hello have you train everyday streched for splits?

[@MrMojo271]

You look pretty tall, like me (6’7”). I wonder if us taller guys are just naturally stiff. I’ve been working on flexibility and mobility for a couple years. I’ve only seen modest improvements. I’ll try this

[@artofopening]

I’ve wondered this too, but then I meet tall guys who are naturally flexible and it breaks the theory. Idk 🤷‍♂️

[@hiely2]

Like... Josh Trevor and You are brothers right? Thats one if kind family thats for sure Jesus Christ... Insert a lot of positive feedbacks here* Love all 3 of ya!

[@artofopening]

Haha thanks my friend. Yup we the bros!

[@m4tpoons]

There’s a third strength side brother?

[@cagri5360]

Somehow algorithms provided this video, in my understanding you recommend mobility training over passive streching... I would not consider handstand as a shoulder opener 😂 but a final result of x years of consistent work (I'm also not there yet). I'll try to see movements according to perspective you've provided here as passive streching is booooring... I've also saw a lady who teared down some tendons just because of regularly doing goodmornings and she regretted not strenghtening them but just focusing on streching. Probably the way you do them makes the switch flex vs strenght...

[@nancyelmon4544]

Do you think it's possible the a senior citizen who suffered from back pain hips and sacroiliac joints pain.

[@artofopening]

Check out my more recent content. I think both strategies could be really helpful, and I use them with senior clients that I work with.

[@willtomove]

Does the algorithm pick up on amount of comments?

[@artofopening]

Doesn't hurt to try eh?

[@amymccall5263]

Yes

[@YoungChia]

Indeed

[@auberginesplash]

Nice

[@artofopening]

You see this video blew up?

[@studentofspacetime]

I've been working on my hamstrings for a whole year now, static stretching. I've made zero progress.

[@Benjiffy]

I was always in pain, so I just stuck at whatever physics gave me. Static stretching did not work for me. Twenty years of wasting time on it.

[@Mr.Buckets69]

Does this get you abs? I’m confused lol

[@einarjuel]

Good job

[@azeemali7102]

Mistakes made, realizing inflamation is common and a daily occurence for men over 40 and knowingly resourcing to Acetaminophen and Naproxen, weekly even daily use of ice/or ice baths. Not focusing on the Origomi-or ie; plethora of stretches: limit and stick with 3 at best and daily. Highly recommend dry-needling and knowing how exhausting progression getting results can be. If your finances allow massages/sauna/dry needling/red-light therapy/even self massage tools...good luck its taking me couple of years to get to Chuck Norris level!

[@KevsGuide]

Can you free up a stiff upper back?

[@artofopening]

Yes.

[@christianfrandsen1082]

Same speech cadence as the strength side guys lol

[@agnidas5816]

you got it wrong. the reason our back cannot stretch is because our front core is tight. the hip flexors had nothing to do with it. most back tightness and pain is due to the front core. back is way more stretchy. You cannot forward fold with tight abs. Usually back overcompensates for this leading to back pain. The leg lifts are straight phil wharton excercises for runners... been known for decades to be the best ones.

[@artofopening]

Sounds like you already know what you need to know :)

[@willtomove]

KnakOwmend tbtj

[@artofopening]

Thoughtful response. Good ideas, really using your intellect here.

[@MeezyPeezy]

This dude spoke so slow to really milk that KZbin time

[@calimon00]

His cadence of speech was difficult for me to follow. I muted the volume, increase the playback speed, and turned on captions.

[@fatalradius]

Some thoughts are better to keep inside.

[@onetrue217]

As I read the top comment I thought what a strange comment then I read your reply and thought I agreed and now here I am writing a further comment detailing my inner monologue.

[@Rezzzn0r]

Great advices, unfortunately i was wasting my time and energy same as you were with wrong exercises.