5 Inspiring Stretching Transformation Stories
Recently, I looked back through my notes from all the stretching workshops I have attended and the blog posts I have written.
Something profound really caught my attention: MEN!
All my workshop instructors have been MEN!
Some of the most transformative stretch stories that I have written about in my blog posts were about MEN!
Like...
Big Al, the larger-than-life horse rancher from Taos, New Mexico
When he found out that I was a stretching coach, he bent his body straight forward, placing his hands flat on the ground to show me how flexible he was.
No one in our group could believe it!
“I stretch for 20 minutes every day, always have and always will. My motto: You are as young as your spine is limber,” he told me.
(Way to go, Al! You are my hero.)
David Goggin, Navy Seal, Multiple Ironman Champion, Motivational Speaker, Author
I heard a podcast recently with David Goggin.
He confessed that he overworked and over-exercised his body for years until he couldn’t move.
It was too tight.
He worked out so hard and had no time to stretch; he also thought stretching was bad for the body.
He was a “6’1” man in a 5’9” body,” he said.
He was on so many medications for pain, sleep, uppers, downers that he couldn’t keep count and none of them worked.
He couldn’t sleep and thought he was dying.
He finally found a doctor that told him that he needed to stretch.
It saved his life!
He has only missed 2 days of stretching now in 5 years.
(I have cold chills from this story! I don’t know this man, but I just love him. I want to meet him one day.)
Tom Brady, NFL Quarterback, 7 time Superbowl Champion
He credits stretching as part of his ability to sustain a high level of play at an older age and why he is still “in the game.”
He calls his method of stretching “pliability” on his company’s website.
He also calls stretching “prehab” instead of having to go to “rehab.”
(Love, love, love this! You go, Tom Brady!)
Novak Djokovic, #1 Ranked Tennis Player in the world
He suffered a shoulder injury several years ago and had to have surgery which kept him out of his game for 18 months.
He found stretching through his rehab program and regretted not finding it before his surgery.
He believes that if he had been stretching, he could have prevented surgery and his time away from the game.
(He’s 34 years old and still going strong…impressive!)
Bob Crowley, Creator of The Genius of Flexibility Institute, Santa Barbara, CA
I attended my very first stretch workshop here.
Bob found stretching after he suffered injuries from a horrible car accident.
It changed his life—AND became his career.
He calls stretching “Corrective Exercise” and a way to “Upgrade your body”.
(Love, love, love this! Could not be more inspiring and true.)
Do you see what I see?
These stories are about MEN listening to their bodies.
They put aside their ego and found stretching as a way to allow their bodies to recover, recharge, repair, reset, and rejuvenate so they could function at a higher level—free of pain and restriction of movement.
They are able to live life to its highest level, perform with greatness, and stay in the game—all thanks to stretching!
These men are so inspiring to me that I had to re-share their amazing stories with you in hopes that they will inspire you to stretch also.
Women, share the power of stretching with the men in your life! It will enhance their life in a really great way.
And if you are a man reading this… get busy stretching! You have nothing to lose but mobility.
You see…
We are active until we are not!
We are active until that one thing gets us!
Let’s get it before it gets us, so that we can stay active and free from injury and pain—all our lives!
Let’s all find the time to STRETCH.
Get started stretching below:
