Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Curses!

I decided to skip my planned 6k run tonight. My foot is tight, yes, but on its own this probably would not have kept me from running. That pain in my left calf, however, in addition to the foot thing meant that I was not venturing out. It's a bit strange, this whole "listening to your body" thing. I am not accustomed to doing this, but I think it's for the best. Around the Bay is less than two weeks away, after all.

Which brings me to my other favorite pastime: stretching. I envy those of you who don't need to stretch and wonder how your muscles and tendons don't just snap. Also, I can't imagine the constant pain that you are subjected to on account of being less than limber. Then again, perhaps I am just saddled with an inferior chassis.

More often than I would like my boss or co-workers catch me doing some cubicle stretching and I've come to grips with the fact that they see this as a bit odd. Instead, I am finding different ways of using the office furniture with which I've been supplied to aid in my constant quest for stretchitude. For example, those legs on the rotating chair are very useful for stretching the calves (as long as you hold on to the back of the chair and prevent it from suddenly slipping out from under your foot). The desk, when clear, can be used for an effective ITB stretch when one places ones leg outside-of-the-ankle side down (I recommend using the mouse pad for cushioning of the ankle bone), knee bent on a 90 degree angle, then rotating the opposite hip until a full stretch is attained.

The other thing to which I must confess is that I've actually come to enjoy tying my shoes more than any one person ever should. I get the absolute best hamstring stretch when performing this operation and will sometime retie my shoes for no other reason than to get that hammy-whammy nice and loose. It's weird how I can't get as good a hamstring stretch when actually doing the wide variety of hamstring stretches that I'm sure all of us (except those limber freaks already mentioned) have done countless times. Downward dog? Yeah, whatever. That canine can chew my shoes for all I care, for at least then it would offer me yet another opportunity to stretch the hams.

How are your office stretches going? Any effective techniques you'd like to share? What about stealth? Are you like me and no longer care about getting "caught", or do you time your stretching to coincide with your co-workers smoke breaks and the like?

Labels: , ,

9 Comments:

Blogger Mel-2nd Chances said...

lol, one of the benefits of working at home, only the cat looks at me strangely. Keep up with the stretches!

March 18, 2009 at 9:23 PM  
Blogger Arcane said...

i do my hamstring stretches in the stairwell. I have a small foam roller that I use in my office and I've been caught using a couple of times after hours while trying to stretch my ITB. I've learned now to close my office door at all times unless I'm positively certain no else is in the office. Even then, i try to time closing my office door so as to not draw attention to my door being closed.

March 18, 2009 at 10:25 PM  
Blogger Carly said...

I get busted all the time and my coworkers laugh at me. I sit on a stability ball rather than a chair and I use the ball for stretching too. Many times I have had people come in as I am laying on the floor with my legs up on my ball. (that sounded bad...I am stretching my hammies out)

March 18, 2009 at 11:16 PM  
Blogger Marci said...

As a teacher I stretch all the time in front of my students. Its just a "quirk" that I have as a teacher (all teachers have 'em) LOL

March 18, 2009 at 11:28 PM  
Blogger Vava said...

Carly: That's awesome! I've been wanting to bring my Yoga ball into the office to use as a chair but for a variety of reasons I am unable to. And yeah, if I did have one I'd get caught in lots of "comprimising" positions as well!

Marci: That's also awesome! Do you teach little kids or high school age? I'm guessing the little ones would totally take after you and stretch all the time as well. My 4 year-old "stretches" like Daddy, but what he does is more comedy than calisthetics.

Arcane: I wish I had an office door to close! I think it's great that you still try to "time it" so as not to draw attention to yourself. And stretching in the stairwell - what a great idea. I haven't thought of that one. Cheers! (and thanks for visiting!)

Melanie: I envy your work environment. Your cat probably sleeps while you stretch, which is also fit for envy!

March 19, 2009 at 9:44 AM  
Blogger Marlene said...

I WISH I were a diligent stretcher. I need to be... I should take your advice and do it in the office. Everyone here already things I'm crazy anyway!

March 19, 2009 at 9:56 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I'm always stretching at work. Most co-workers just laugh as they walk by.

March 19, 2009 at 11:16 AM  
Blogger C said...

Luckily my office is currently empty so there's no one to see me do weird stretches. Yay! :)

March 19, 2009 at 2:00 PM  
Blogger Ace said...

Hahaha too funny. I've been caught sooo many times stretching at the office. Unfortunately or fortunately? for them I'm usually doing a hamstring stretch and get caught "bottoms up."

March 20, 2009 at 1:03 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home