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The summer games of 2008 have brought to light the performance of swimmer Dara Torres. Torres’ performance, in her 40s, led her to place as one of the best in the world. It has also proven that age can not be a limit to reaching peak levels. Dara Torres credits her accomplishments heavily on resistance stretching techniques developed and ‘rediscovered’ by Bob Cooley. His work can encourage further research into classical hatha yoga techniques and traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that can improve physiology and personality of individuals.
Mr. Cooley was led to this rediscovery by an accident that killed his friend, and left him alive. They were hit by a drunk driver while walking one night. He was slipping in and out of consciousness and was on the ground, thrown 25 feet away from the collision, with his shoulder dislocated.
Rehabilitation did not work for him at the level he wanted. He was told that stretching would help improve flexibility. He kept practicing, yet he made no gains. Other patients in the clinic, also, had little progress. He felt something was missing. Therefore, Mr. Cooley decided to sit for an hour a day, with his legs out in front of him, trying to find out what happens to the muscles that allows one to stretch all the way down. Then one day, all of a sudden his body began to bend forward after 20 years of unsuccessful attempts. Yet, he still did not know what was happening. He waiting again, sitting there for an hour a day, and one day, again, it happened. This time he paid attention and noticed that his muscles were contracting. That was how he was able to stretch. He learned that one must lengthen and contract at the same time to complete a successful stretch. Mr. Cooley became excited and experimented with other stretches.
Eventually, he learned that each one of his stretch moves finished in positions that were classical hatha yoga poses thousands of years old. In addition, one day when he was stretching his hamstrings, he felt his bladder contract. His friend told him that the bladder meridian energy channels traverse those muscles as taught in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He found that the muscles he stretched matched up with organs and their meridians. It seems resistance stretching contracts the muscles and in turn sends that vibration to the organs to improve functionality.
In addition, he decided to have 20 or so of his friends to do the same stretches together for 45 minutes. After the session every one was behaving, speaking and acting the same way and even using the same words. With this self and group experimentation he found out that specific stretches also elicit specific personalities. People with the same behaviors or same ailments had the same flexibility patterns.
In his book, he has 16 stretches that can be linked to improving an ailment and changing personality traits by following the energy flows from TCM. For example if you have a problem with your appendix or any of the following symptoms: lower right abdominal, hip and thigh pain; appendicitis; food poisoning; bumpy complexion; difficulty completing a thought; or extreme muscle tautness then you do stretch number fifteen. This “Full Locust at the Wall” is where one is on one’s stomach with legs outstretched and supported against the wall and while contracting the muscles as one applies resistance against the wall and the floor. This stretches a range of muscles including the back and neck area. Additionally, it improves cartilage and can detoxify. For personality changes it can help one to overcome anxiety. It can “increase your ability to change, express gratitude and express your individuality and can help to dismantle feelings of depersonalization (Cooley, 221).”
TCM medicine consists of special exercises such as Tai Chi and Qigong, acupuncture, diet, and herbal medicines that follow the theory of energy flows. “According to these practices, the body’s vital energy, qi, circulates through the body along specific interconnected channels called meridians.”
There is a way to quantitatively determine one’s flexibility level with these stretches with the help of Quantifying Human Range of Motion (QHROM) analysis research. This data can help one to improve positioning during the stretches for feedback to improve technique and reach a more optimum level of healing. Electromagnetic waves are projected around the person’s body to identify x, y, z coordinates of specific bony landmarks as the person is in a particular position. Within a few minutes the software will display true flexibility or range of motion (ROM) for all major joints of the body. This data can be use for visual and quantitative comparison with ideal models and can provide feedback to plan rehabilitation, prevent injury, enhance athletic performance and overall health.
Olympian Torres resistance stretches three times per week as well as before and after races. These techniques, consistent with practices thousands of years old, can speed recovery after exercise or accidents. With the strengthening of muscles, in a balanced way, physiology and well being improves. These stretches can be used to promote healing and encourage positive behaviors. More research can be conducted to determine optimum stretches to improve specific diseases or personalities.
References
Cooley, Bob. (2005) The Genius of Flexibility: The Smart Way to Stretch and Strengthen Your Body, New York. Simon and Schuster.
Cooley, B (2007) Meridian Flexibilty Center, [Online], Available: http://www.meridianstretching.com/index.html
Park A. (2008) Resistance Stretching: Contract your muscles while stretching them and get a workout worthy of an Olympian. TIME Magazine August 18
Cooley, B (2007) Traditional Chinese Medicine [Online], Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine#Scientific_view




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