How to Stretch Before Cheerleading

Series Summary

Cheer leading has changed significantly since it first appeared in the United States in the late 1800s. Its not just about looking good in a short skirt or some tight pants! Today's cheer leading incorporates difficult stunts and gymnastics into the routines. ESPN now even broadcasts the National High School Cheer Leading Competition nationally! There also are some very notable cheerleader alumni such as Madonna, Paula Abdul, Sandra Bullock and even Ronald Reagan, so you will be in good company. So if you or your children want to crack next year's squad, learn from our expert Shyra Fernandez. Shyra will show you the correct way to perform various advanced jumps and stunts that will get you on your way to being a "crack" cheerleader.

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Shyra from Excel Rebel in Orlando Lakes, Florida. I'm going to be doing advanced cheerleading on behalf of Expert Village. Now I'm going to go into stretching. It's important to stretch before you do any exercises, especially in cheer leading. You utilize different muscles, so it's very important. First, we're going to go down to your right leg and we're going to hold this stretch probably about ten seconds. Then you're going to travel to the center section, pushing down as much as possible, totally stretching your hamstrings. Each section, you're going to go to your left, you're going to hold about ten seconds. Then we're going to bring our feet together, pull down, grabbing the back of your ankles, head down trying to get your head in as close as you can to your knees. Then we're going to stand up slowly and step out, legs apart, and you're going to lean over bringing your knee right over the top of your toe. Each of these stretches we're also going to hold for ten seconds. Then back up to the center. We're going to switch over to the other side. This is a lunge position, side lunge position. Then we'll go back up to the center, turning to the side. Then we're going to pull down to a running lunge. Make sure you keep your knee directly over your toe. Then we're going to pull straight back. Keep your heel off of the floor so you can stretch your calve at the same time. You're going to come back up and go to the other side. Running lunge on this side. Make sure you keep your knee directly over your toe. Then we're going to pull back, stretching out your hamstring again. Then we're going to go down to the floor. We're going to stretch out our wrist for tumbling, doing both sides. Then we're going to bring our arms across. Take one arm straight over, the other arm is going to pull this arm back stretching out your back and your shoulder. Then take your arm behind your head, grab your elbow and pull back it should be stretching out the back of your arm. Then we're going to come down onto the floor and press up in an arch position, stretching out your back. Then pull back, you're going to stretch out your shoulder, both of your shoulders, and then back up again to the arch position. Then we're going to come right here and we're going to roll out our necks, and each of these exercises, make sure you're holding long enough to stretch you out for your exercise."