If you’re serious about bodyweight training, then your “active flexibility” is a must. But what does this term actually mean? And more importantly,  how do you even begin to train it?

Today is your lucky day. You are about to learn everything you need to know on stretching in the most effective manner. Prepare to experience the phenomenon known as GymnasticBodies active flexibility training.

The concept of utilizing your strength and flexibility in unison has long been embedded into gymnastics training. It’s the backbone of GST core values.

We’ve taken a brief glimpse into the concept of active flexibility in this blog post and in this follow-up article, we will dive deeper into the theory behind active flexibility training. Deepen your pool of knowledge and learn to apply active flexibility into your training today.

Putting the “Active” Back Into Flexibility Training

Active flexibility training differs from its counterpart, passive flexibility, in the way that it involves you “actively” pulling your muscles into a stretch. This involves a strength component to express greater control through a full range of motion.

Let’s say you wanted to increase the flexibility in your hamstrings (on the back side of your leg). This would mean that your quads (the opposing muscle) would need to “actively” pull you into your deepest forward fold. In gymnastics, this pike position is known as compression. And like many gymnastic movements, it requires a strong core to perform the stretch through an active range of motion.

One of the best gymnastic core exercises to develop your active flexibility is the V-up from our Foundation One Course. This little gem will sculpt your core like no other exercise, all while actively stretching your hamstrings and lower back. Talk about an efficient combo!

What more can you ask for from such a seemingly simple exercise?

Flexible is the “New” Strong

Times are changing, and people are starting to realize the athletic benefits of flexibility training. As it turns out, training to improve strength, in absence of flexibility, will lead to tight muscles, poor posture, and, as a result, decreased performance. The term “well-rounded athlete” refers to an athlete who has put in the time to develop their mobility and strength equally for maximal GST gains.

Gymnastic Strength Training improves active flexibility throughout every muscle and joint in your body, making your potential endless. Coach Christopher Sommer is a firm believer that if your mobility doesn’t match your strength, then your strength isn’t well-rounded. If you are in the business of building a balanced physique, then you must train your active flexibility.

The outline to building high levels of athleticism from scratch is laid out in our GB Foundation Courses, which focus on developing active flexibility to match your newly acquired strength. It is this emphasis on developing strength through greater ranges of motion that has forged world-class gymnast and high-level GB athletes alike.

The Big Pay Off

Now that we know how active flexibility can enhance your Gymnastic Bodies training, only this question remains: how does it help you? Becoming more limber can significantly increase your athletic capabilities and quality of life. When trained in tandem with your passive flexibility, you can keep your body running optimally while staying injury free.

GST is world-renowned for its transferability to other sports and athletic endeavors; Crossfit, MMA, rock climbing, and yoga just to name a few. The secret behind this seamless permeability to other athletic endeavors lies within the integrated mobility exercises interlaced within our courses.

A greater capacity for movement will ultimately give you more options athletically to apply in any field of play, whether you are in competition or simply in this game called life. Strive to expand your movement vocabulary and watch your body move like liquid steel.

Summarizing Thoughts

1. Active flexibility is the perfect marriage between strength and flexibility and requires you to express control throughout a full range of motion.
2. The secret behind the proven methods of our GB Courses is its effective approach to matching your mobility gains with your gymnastic strength.
3. Improving your active flexibility will allow you to effortlessly excel in any physical endeavor while keeping you free of injury.

Complement your training with the most effective Gymnastic Bodies active flexibility exercises from our GB Online Courses, and develop well-rounded athletic capabilities and a strong, durable physique.