Q & A: Sang H. Kim on Warming Up Before Stretching

Reader Question: 

Dear Mr. Kim,

I just received and saw your recent DVD Ultimate Flexibility (I also own your excellente book Ultimate Flexibility and others), and I have a doubt regarding the workouts you suggest (beginner, moderate and intense). Is it necessary to perform any warm-up before the workouts? Since the workouts have some dynamic and/or joint exercises in the beginning I became with this doubt. If yes, what warm-up you suggest before each exercise taking into account that is a Streching Specific Workout and no previous exercise has been done. Thanks in advance for your attention,

Best regards,

Miguel Durao

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Answer from Sang H. Kim:

Dear Miguel,

Thank you for your inquiry. Whether you need to warm-up before using any of the workouts depends on your physical condition and level of flexibility.

In general, I would recommend using the Beginner workout as a warm-up for the Intermediate and/or Advanced workouts but some people may also need to warm up before the Beginner workout.

Ten to fifteen minutes of gross motor activity like jumping rope, jogging or other light aerobic activity that you are comfortable with is a good way to elevate your body temperature and prepare for more strenuous activity

Best of luck with your flexibility training,

Sang H. Kim

Stretching Exercises to Improve your Low Back Flexibility

by Sang H. Kim

The photos below illustrate the exercises that Sang H. Kim describes in his video on improving your low back flexibility (scroll down for the video).

Partial Forward Bend

Hold a table or another waist high surface and gently bend forward from the waist as you relax.

Arching Cat

On your hands and knees, begin with a flat back and then arch your back.

Knee Pull

Lie on your back and slowly curl up your body as you pull one or both knees to your chest and hold.

Sleeping Turtle

On your knees, place your palms and forehead on the floor. Relax your upper body into the floor.