Static stretching is more effective as a form of restoration away from training than it is as a warm-up method during training, but if you don’t have time to put aside for it exclusively, you can always kill two birds with one stone. Why not stretch while watching television? The average American watches over four hours of television a day. You can easily spare an hour of that time to stretch.

For instance, a great way to restore collapsed arches and get a nice stretch for your quads is to sit on your heels. This is part of the hero pose in yoga. Practice other stretches during this time as well away from watching television somewhat healthy and productive.

An excellent way to address the myofascial system at least once a week is with yoga. I used to have a yoga instructor come to the house on a regular basis, but these days I go to a studio that’s nearby. I find that yoga helps not only to improve flexibility and enhance recovery, but also with relaxation. With a busy schedule, you need some time to “unwind” and yoga can definitely accomplish that.

Now, you don’t necessarily have to attend a studio to practice yoga with an instructor. You can do it in private right at home. Just find a video or DVD that resonates well with you and go for it!

Whether you decide to perform yoga at a studio or at home, aim for at least an hour a week. Schedule it in your calendar if you have to and stick to it.

Tomorrow in the next installment of the series, we’ll examine soft-tissue work.