I came across an interview with Kit Laughlin in a Pilates Assn of Canada newsletter and thought I would make a mention of him here at Pilates Scene. I have purchased a copy of his book Stretching and Flexibility and on a leisurely weekend away I took the time to watch the whole DVD and attempt many of his stretching suggestions. I am a tightly bound thing so it was indeed a struggle at times, and I would advise people to use his suggestions with caution.
Kit’s system is called Posture & Flexibility and it is far more than stretching. P&F is a comprehensive system that includes stretching, strengthening, re-patterning, and relaxation.
Kit advocates The C-R approach. The core of Posture & Flexibility is the Contract-Relax approach (C-R) based on the method called Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF).
The C-R approach has three stages:
• taking a limb into a stretch position and holding it there for 20 seconds or so (larger muscles are held for longer)
• gently pushing or pulling back against a suitable resistance using the muscle in which the stretch is felt
• on a deliberate breath out, re-stretching and holding that final position for 30 seconds or so (longer for larger muscles)
The C-R approach ensures that a deeper and longer-lasting stretch is attained, making P&F far more effective than simply stretching and holding a position.
Try it for yourself, free sample packs are available on his website.
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