Stretch Therapy fascial release for Pancake/Straddle | How to get down in the Pancake
Channel: Kit Laughlin
Date: 2014-01-26

For a more in-depth guide please visit https://stretchtherapy.net/

This video shows a Stretch Therapy™ fascial release for the Straddle/Pancake body position, so desired in the men's gymnastic's world, calisthenics, the world of dance, and of course Yoga, too (final position of upavista-konasana). Well, let's be honest: we all want to be able to do this pose!

These days many ordinary people are pursuing the sort of strength training that leads to the basic skills shown by men's gymnastics elite athletes. Many have found that their major limitation in the pursuit of this goal are fundamental restrictions in their basic flexibility. 

What most people don't realise is that in some positions we try to make with the body, the limitation to acquiring the movement is fascial adhesions—this term refers to when adjacent muscles (which in this case need to slide along each other as they lengthen at different rates to achieve the final position) are actually stuck together. I am writing about this phenomenon in my forthcoming book, and will put up a few more clips if people are interested. The technique demonstrated in this clip gently separates the two muscle involved and, as a result, Suzy is immediately able to put her chest on the floor with a flat back, having been about eight inches (200mm) off the floor, with her chest testing on a rolled mat, only moment before.

This technique is shown as it happened and so it looks fast. It is even more effective done slowly (a practitioner friend recommends about half the speed I used). 

Please go to the forums (http://www.KitLaughlin.com/forums) and let me know if you want me to elaborate on this technique. You need a valid email address to join; it's free.

How to improve flexibility in the adult body is something we understand. 

There is no substitute for working personally with people who can help you achieve your goals, by teaching you practical solutions to any flexibility problem you might have. ST teachers in your area can be found on our site, https://stretchtherapy.net

Timestamps
=========
00:00 - Liv demos perfect pancake
00:40 - call for practitioners to join Kit working on Suzy
01:10 - Kit feels Suzy's left leg
01:45 - Kit feels where the two muscles are separated
02:20 - Suzy's R leg
02:50  - Can you do this yourself?
03:05 - Suzy goes flat onto the floor
03:25 - Kit talks about fascial adhesions
04:00 - fascial release and bruising
04:08 - Q from audience: "Will it stay released?"
05:00 - Kit talks about how movement patterns drive flexibility