Which is best?

[donnydarkoIRL]

Well I've done yoga before, for stretching and flexibility, I'm not a regular but it gave me some marvellous ideas for stretching and warming up so I'd reccomend it to anyone.

I don't know a lot about pilates really, but Luis Collazo swears by it for boxing training.

I think swimming could be beneficial as it strengthens all muscles in the body collectively. But already swim a lot, don't you?

[Sharla]

Yeah I swim often enough I think - i stopped for a while because it was getting expensive but I've picked up a little cash in hand work cleaning on the weekend which has inspired me to start again.

I just think I might need to go extreme with core strengthening work now since my back just seems to have no tolerance at all for exercise these days.

I could decide I'm just getting too old for all this exercise stuff but then my mum would win the craziest exerciser in the family award permanently and I just can't have that!

Plus i think often when you have problems it really means it's more important for you to exercise because if you don't it will all just go down hill from there!

[donnydarkoIRL]

Hmm...

I strengthened my abs using a pulley system.
The opposite exercise I used for my back was a hyper extension bench.
I didn't actually add any weight at all, I just did a lot of reps.
You've told me before you've done them haven't you?

On the floor you could raise the left-leg and right-arm together, then right-leg, left-arm. A few well performed reps of these work well.

This is just something I googled before, we all know the benefits of good posture for the back, but this sounds good;
Establish Core Support for Good Posture

And a related article gives some suprisingly common workout techniques.
Understanding and Enhancing Your Core Strength

[Sharla]

Awesome thanks Donny!

I'll have a look at those articles now.

My upper back muscles I can work until the cows come home but hyperextension exercises for my lower back I tend to avoid.

It just seems to make it cramp up immediately. Perhaps this is something I should have persisted with though. Maybe doing a very light version of the exercise would be good?

You have me thinking now!

[donnydarkoIRL]

Awesome thanks Donny!

I'll have a look at those articles now.

My upper back muscles I can work until the cows come home but hyperextension exercises for my lower back I tend to avoid.

It just seems to make it cramp up immediately. Perhaps this is something I should have persisted with though. Maybe doing a very light version of the exercise would be good?

You have me thinking now!

Remeber I used to complain about my calves and all the problems I had with them?

I used to find they cramped when I tried to exercise them too, maeaning I couldn't improve on them at all.
So I took some whey protein and got my legs in better condition with heaps of skippoing and running. I then did a lot of stretching and I camn now works my calves a lot more.

I don't know how to relate this to the back - if you lived near me I'd take you to the sauna-yoga class that takes away all stiffness....


Or hang about.....that Polish supplement.....its designed for healing injuries and aiding flexibity....
I can't think of the name right now....

[donnydarkoIRL]

Do not bring vegemite anywhere near this side of Europe!
That stuff is awful!

[Bomp]

Do not bring vegemite anywhere near this side of Europe!
That stuff is awful!

Is it the same as marmite? cos that's awful.

[Scrap]

I think it important you drop by when you are over here .

[Sharla]

Thanks Scrap! I appreciate it!

I might have to bring you some vegemite (the food of gods ) or something as an Aussie thankyou pressie!