How To Stretch Your Shoulders and Triceps

Tight shoulders and triceps are a common occurrence among Olympic weightlifters and are often one of the first areas that we need to address when on boarding a new member to the California Strength team. As a result of the sheer volume of overhead movement that every Olympic weightlifter undertakes, the upper body is often left feeling stiff and tight. To combat this stress, it is important to maintain a mobile upper body with a particular focus on opening your front rack position. In today's post, we break down two different stretches demonstrated in the video below.

Demo Video Inside!

Mobility and Flexibility, IPARSandra ArechaederraFebruary 3, 2017Mobility, Yoga, Stretch, Athletes, Olympic weightlifting, Stretching, StretchesComment

Mobility For Athletes: Plantar Ankle Stretch

Giving proper attention to the mobility within your feet and ankles will greatly improve and strengthen your bottom position, which often means the difference between a missed or made lift on the platform.

Demonstration Video Inside!

Mobility For Athletes: Banded Shoulder and Tricep Stretch

Do you long for an open, mobile and stable front rack position? How about being able to jerk behind your ears like National Champion and American Record Holder Wes Kitts? This stretch will help get you there and provide you with a mobile, stable and open front rack position perfect for executing pain free Jerks and Front Squats.

Demo Video Inside!

Sandra ArechaederraJanuary 19, 2017yoga, mobility, bicep, tricep, weightlifting, athletes, Stretch, Stretches, StretchingComment

Mobility For Athletes: Seated Forward Fold For Hamstrings

As we begin the new year, so begins a new weightlifting cycle across the California Strength online programs. During any accumulation phase, relentless work is placed on your hamstrings, causing them to work at full capacity every day of training. To accommodate this work load, your body will be in need of a good stretch to keep up with such a rigorous training cycle. The following assisted variation allows you to not only focus on your form, but will produce a deeper stretch as well.

Demo Video Inside!

Mobility and Flexibility, IPARSandra ArechaederraJanuary 12, 2017Mobility, Athletes, Weightlifting, Stretch, Stretches, StretchingComment

Mobility For Athletes: Standing Pigeon

Hips hips hips. What can you do for tight hips? I hear it frequently. It’s one of the top complaints for Olympic weightlifters, much in part due to all the heavy squatting that is programmed on a regular basis. Hips are one area of the Fundamental Five; five areas that should be addressed daily to increase your range of motion. That said, a great stretch to increase hip flexion is the Standing Pigeon.

Demonstration Video Included!

Mobility For Athletes: Intense Couch Stretch for Your Quads and Hip Flexors

The Couch Stretch is a strong quad and hip flexor stretch that is familiar to many athletes. Instead of just jumping in, let’s first review and focus on a number of cues to help you take advantage of the full effects of this stretch. When done properly, the couch stretch is highly effective for lengthening the quadriceps and hip flexors, but with the variation below using a bench will provide a more intense stretch as well as an external stretch for the shoulders.

Demo Video Inside!

Sandra ArechaederraDecember 29, 2016Mobility, Yoga, Athlete, Quads, Hip Flexors, Stretch, Stretches, StretchingComment

Mobility For Athletes: Inner Wrist Stretch

The wrists, like ankles, are another area of the body that often gets overlooked when warming up for your weight lifting session. If you think about it, mobile and strong wrists are critically important for pain free Snatching, Cleaning and Jerking. Not only will every overhead movement benefit from having more mobile wrists but it will also improve your front rack position, which can be the difference between a made and a missed lift! Strong and mobile wrists provide support all the way up the chain from forearm to shoulder, which in turn lessens your chance of an injury.

Demonstration Video Inside!

Mobility For Athletes: The Half Cross (Shoulder Stretch)

A few weeks ago we discussed shoulder mobility with regards to the overhead and front rack position. This week we focus around the head of the shoulder cuff and surrounding deltoid area. With many facets of the shoulder, it is important to isolate and work on each area for optimal shoulder mobility and flexibility.

Mobility and FlexibilitySandra ArechaederraDecember 14, 2016Mobility, California Strength, Yoga, Shoulder, Stretching, Stretch, StretchesComment

Mobility For Athletes: Child's Pose with Lat Stretch

Child’s Pose is a primary pose in yoga, providing a stretch for the hips, ankles and thighs. When coupled with a lat (Latissumus Dorsi) stretch, it becomes a powerhouse stretch for any athlete looking to improve their performance.

Mobility and FlexibilitySandra ArechaederraDecember 8, 2016Mobility, Weightlifting, CrossFit, Latissumus Dorsi, Stretch, Stretches, StretchingComment

Mobility For Athletes: Calves and Ankles

The calves and ankles are an often overlooked area when warming up for your training session. They are neglected and traded for the popular hamstrings and hips, but this is a critical mistake that can hold back your athletic performance. Mobile and flexible feet, calves and ankles serve as the base for bottom position stability in your Clean, Snatch and Squat.

Demonstration Video Included!