Aikido Dancer Stretches

Video Transcript

"Okay, the next in our series of stretches, it's going to pull the heel up, and this actually comes from dancers. What you're trying to do, is again, you're making a "T" shape, but you're going to extend that foot out. Let that hip come out. Most Americans have extremely tight hips, and, actually, most Westerners have extremely tight hips, mostly from the fact that we sit so much. Relax, come on down, let that heel come up. Again, you're going to feel it in the back of the leg, you're going to feel it down through the side of the quadriceps, through the knee, and just breathe. Theoretically you want to be able to get your elbow as close to your foot as possible. If you can do that, send me a message, I'd love to see it. Same thing, think about driving that heel into the floor, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, count for five, relax, try to get lower. The other side, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, count for five, relax. And up...modified dancers stretch."