Why Flexibility Exercises Sometimes Don't Work

Summary

In this video, Matt addresses why flexibility exercises sometimes fail to yield results, despite following routines correctly. He explains that muscle tightness is governed by the nervous system, not just the physical stretching of muscles. Matt delves into how stability, coordination, and psychological factors affect flexibility. He references Wilhelm Reich’s work on the mind-body connection, showing how emotional tension can manifest as muscle rigidity. By understanding both physical and mental aspects, Matt offers a holistic approach to improving flexibility through conscious movement and awareness.

Takeaways

• 😀 Flexibility exercises may not work for everyone, even if they work for many people.
• 🤔 Flexibility is not just about pulling on muscles; it’s also about the nervous system.
• 💡 The nervous system controls muscle tightness and can prevent muscles from relaxing during stretching.
• 🧠 Poor coordination, stability, or muscular control can hinder flexibility improvements.
• 💪 Muscle tightness is often maintained by the nervous system, not by physical issues in the muscles themselves.
• 📖 Flexibility techniques often involve waiting for the nervous system to relax, but this process can be slow and requires patience.
• 🧘‍♂️ Psychological factors, like emotional stress or mental rigidity, can manifest as physical muscle tension.
• 🧠 Muscle tension can be linked to mental and emotional states, such as stress, anxiety, or trauma.
• 💬 Certain postures, like hunched shoulders or back pain, can be related to emotional experiences or feelings of burden.
• 🌀 Addressing muscle tension may require not only physical stretching but also addressing mental and emotional factors.

Q & A

Why do some flexibility exercises not work for certain people?

Flexibility exercises might not work for some people because the nervous system can maintain muscle tightness. If the nervous system feels that the body lacks coordination, stability, or muscular control in an elongated position, it contracts the muscles to protect the body, preventing flexibility gains.

What is the mainstream misconception about how flexibility is gained?

The mainstream misconception is that flexibility is gained simply by pulling on a muscle, which is thought to make it longer, like stretching a rubber band. However, this overlooks the role of the nervous system in maintaining muscle tightness.

How does the nervous system affect muscle tightness during stretching?

When a person tries to elongate a muscle through stretching, the nervous system may interpret it as a threat if the body lacks stability or control in that position. The nervous system then causes the muscle to contract, limiting flexibility gains.

What is the role of stability and coordination in achieving flexibility?

Stability and coordination are key to achieving flexibility. If the body lacks these elements, the nervous system will not allow the muscles to relax and elongate during stretching exercises, which prevents progress in flexibility.

Why do some people experience temporary flexibility improvements that later revert?

Some people experience temporary flexibility improvements because their nervous system might momentarily allow muscle elongation, but without addressing underlying coordination, stability, or emotional factors, the body reverts to its previous state.

What did the speaker discover about their own flexibility journey?

The speaker discovered that despite trying various flexibility routines for years, including yoga and other stretches, they made no progress until they realized the importance of the nervous system's role in maintaining muscle tightness. They later made progress by focusing on more holistic flexibility training.

How does the nervous system 'release' muscle tightness according to the speaker?

The nervous system releases muscle tightness when it senses that the body is in a safe, stable position. Initially, it may resist by clamping the muscle, but with proper training and time, it eventually relaxes and allows for muscle elongation.

Who is Wilhelm Reich, and how does his work relate to muscle tightness?

Wilhelm Reich was a German psychoanalyst who theorized that muscular tension could be related to emotional and psychic rigidity. He noticed that when his therapy clients had psychological breakthroughs, they often experienced physical muscle releases as well.

How can emotional factors affect muscle tightness?

Emotional factors can manifest as physical muscle tightness. For example, someone who feels the weight of the world on their shoulders may develop tight shoulder muscles. Similarly, emotional protection or stress can lead to rounded shoulders or back pain.

What is the 'muscular tension release system' mentioned in the video?

The 'muscular tension release system' is a program created by the speaker that addresses muscle tightness by focusing on both physical and emotional aspects. It involves specific movements and exercises to release long-held muscle tension and improve flexibility.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Why Do Flexibility Exercises Sometimes Fail?

In this introduction, Matt addresses a common question about flexibility training. He explores why exercises designed to improve muscle flexibility might not always work, even when others report great success with them. Matt shares personal experiences of doing exercises regularly without achieving the expected results, despite following routines like the Russian ballet-inspired flexibility routine. He highlights how some people might not benefit from these exercises and uses his own struggles with flexibility training as an example.

05:01

🧠 The Role of the Nervous System in Flexibility

Matt explains the deeper, often overlooked role of the nervous system in muscle flexibility. He argues that muscle tightness is more of a nervous system issue than a physical problem with the muscle tissue itself. When attempting a stretch, if the nervous system feels unsafe due to a lack of stability, control, or coordination, it responds by contracting the muscles, preventing them from elongating. He references the book by Kit Laughlin, which supports the idea that flexibility comes from the nervous system and must be trained properly to improve.

10:03

🌀 Breaking the Flexibility Plateau: Physical and Mental Blocks

Matt dives deeper into the complexity of flexibility training, explaining how personal experiences differ when doing the same stretches. He reflects on how, in the past, his body resisted certain stretches, causing discomfort and pain without any real progress. Over time, he discovered that flexibility could be hindered by other mental and emotional factors. He touches on the work of Wilhelm Reich, who suggested a link between mental tension and muscle tightness. Matt notes how emotional or psychological stress can manifest as physical tension, preventing the muscles from relaxing.

🔄 Emotional and Psychological Factors in Muscle Tightness

Matt elaborates on how emotional and psychological factors can cause muscle tightness. He gives examples of how stress or emotional burdens can manifest physically, such as tight shoulders representing 'carrying the weight of the world.' He emphasizes that muscle tension can develop from seemingly insignificant moments in life, and until the emotional root cause is addressed, the tension may persist. He also explains that working through physical exercises can help release these tensions, leading to improved flexibility and muscle function.

🌍 Mind-Body Connection in Fitness and Flexibility

In this concluding section, Matt emphasizes the importance of the mind-body connection in fitness, especially flexibility training. He critiques mainstream fitness advice for focusing solely on physical exercise without considering the nervous system or mental factors. He promotes his content as exploring the deeper aspects of flexibility, such as how the mind affects muscle tightness and how improving mental awareness can enhance physical performance. Matt invites viewers to subscribe and explore his website for more insights, particularly his 'Muscular Tension Release System.'

Keywords

💡Flexibility

Flexibility refers to the ability of muscles or muscle groups to lengthen and move freely through a full range of motion. In the video, Matt addresses the challenge of improving flexibility, particularly how some exercises may not work for everyone due to various factors like the nervous system and mental state. He shares his personal experience of struggling with flexibility for over a decade, despite following common advice.

💡Nervous system

The nervous system controls muscle tension and relaxation. Matt explains that tight muscles are often maintained not because of the muscles themselves, but due to the nervous system's inability to allow them to relax or elongate. He mentions that a lack of stability, coordination, or control can cause the nervous system to restrict flexibility, leading to difficulty in performing stretches.

💡Muscle tension

Muscle tension refers to the tightening or shortening of muscles, which can restrict flexibility. Matt highlights how muscle tension is controlled by the nervous system and can also be influenced by emotional or psychological factors. He provides examples of how mental states, such as stress or emotional burden, can manifest physically as muscle tension in areas like the shoulders or back.

💡Coordination

Coordination involves the nervous system’s ability to manage muscle movements effectively. Matt points out that without proper coordination, muscles may remain tight, preventing flexibility gains. He explains that improving coordination is essential for achieving flexibility, as it allows the muscles to operate correctly in an elongated range.

💡Wilhelm Reich

Wilhelm Reich was a German psychoanalyst whose work on the connection between physical muscle tension and psychological states is mentioned in the video. Matt draws on Reich’s theory that muscle rigidity can be a physical manifestation of mental or emotional issues, suggesting that mental health can influence physical flexibility.

💡Stability

Stability refers to the body's ability to maintain control and balance during movements. Matt explains that lacking stability can lead to tight muscles and hinder flexibility progress. In the video, he emphasizes the importance of developing stability to prevent the nervous system from contracting muscles unnecessarily during stretches.

💡Psyche and muscle rigidity

The psyche-muscle rigidity connection suggests that mental or emotional states can manifest as physical muscle tension. Matt introduces this idea through the work of Wilhelm Reich, explaining how stress, emotional burden, or negative thoughts can lead to tightness in specific muscle groups, affecting one's overall flexibility.

💡Back chain

The back chain refers to the muscles along the posterior side of the body, including the hamstrings and calves. In the video, Matt discusses a flexibility routine designed for this area, particularly referencing the Russian ballet routine to improve flexibility in the back chain. He also mentions that despite the effectiveness of this routine for many, it may not work for everyone due to individual differences in the nervous system and mental state.

💡Emotional tension

Emotional tension is the mental or emotional stress that can manifest physically in the body. Matt talks about how feelings such as stress or pressure can lead to physical tension, particularly in areas like the shoulders or back. This emotional tension can hinder flexibility, as the muscles remain contracted due to unresolved emotional issues.

💡Muscular tension release system

The muscular tension release system is a method Matt has developed to help individuals release physical tension by addressing both physical and psychological factors. In the video, he briefly introduces this system, explaining how it helps people improve their flexibility by targeting the underlying reasons for muscle tension, such as the nervous system and emotional states.

Highlights

Exercises designed to increase flexibility may not work for everyone, even if they are proven to work for others.

Flexibility exercises may fail to produce results even after being performed daily for extended periods.

The speaker had poor flexibility for over a decade despite trying yoga, stretches, and multiple other methods.

Muscle tightness is primarily controlled by the nervous system, not just physical properties of the muscle.

Flexibility can be limited by a lack of coordination, stability, or muscular control, which are connected to the nervous system.

The nervous system can resist flexibility gains, but over time it may learn to release tension in small increments.

Flexibility training has to address both physical and neurological aspects for effective long-term results.

The speaker introduces a product called the 'Muscular Tension Release System' that addresses these issues.

Muscle rigidity and psychological rigidity are interconnected, according to the theories of Wilhelm Reich.

Reich's work showed a connection between emotional states and physical muscle tension, suggesting that flexibility may be influenced by emotional and mental factors.

The speaker provides examples, such as tight shoulders being related to stress and back pain being connected to anger.

Emotional experiences, even minor ones, can create lasting muscle tension, which may require specific movements to release.

Releasing long-held tension in muscles can lead to increased muscle mass and improved physical function.

Mainstream fitness advice often overlooks the influence of the nervous system and mind on flexibility.

The speaker promotes a holistic approach to flexibility, combining physical exercises with nervous system and emotional awareness.

Transcripts

hey it's Matt in this video I want to

address a common question about

flexibility which is why do exercises

that are designed to make a particular

muscle or muscle group or a kind of like

you know area of the body more flexible

why do they sometimes just not work like

you might see the person instructing do

the exercise and it you know clearly is

making the the muscle lengthen and

you've also heard that this exercise

works for many other people and yet when

you do it it might not necessarily give

you results you might do it every single

day

go-go-go-go and then like people say oh

yeah just did this for 30 days and so

much flexibility but you doing it's just

like you might get nothing more you

might get some temporary flexibility but

it just kind of like goes back and then

it's as if you never did anything so I

recently put up a video and it was a

flexibility routine for the kind of back

chain all done the hamstrings and calves

in the back to make that area more

flexible and it's a routine from the

Russian ballet so it's a completely

legitimate very excellent flexibility

routine that has done wonders for many

people and yet I know for a fact that

some people if they tried it it wouldn't

work for them just just wouldn't work

for them they would they would run into

some problem and better just be like

whoa I'm not gonna do this because it

doesn't work and I know that's true

because it was completely true for me

although I've been getting great results

from that routine I couldn't have even

contemplated trying that routine until

recently I had started getting terrible

flexibility when I was 18 or something

and I'm 34 now and I could not improve

my flexibility for like 12 or something

year

like at all I couldn't make any progress

it's just like I went to yoga I did it I

looked up every stretch on the internet

read all these articles and I tried all

these stretches I would do stretches and

stretches and stretches for two hours a

day and you know if I looked at myself

in the mirror and I looked at a picture

or a video I'd be like I am doing this

thing completely right or even if I was

with a yoga teacher they'd be like yeah

you're doing it right and then they'd be

like me

this idiot can't do it right can't can't

do the flexibility but the thing is like

flexibility exercises are extremely easy

they don't complicated in any way like

however you think you're meant to do

them that's probably how you meant to do

them in terms of kind of like the

intention the physical actual form that

you're meant to take however sometimes

they don't work now I'm going to explain

why in a couple of layers okay now the

first as I mentioned before and I kind

of say it a lot but it's so relevant to

say because it's so against the idea

that is deeply deeply entrenched in the

mainstream thought that really needs to

be like karate chop this but is it just

busted out of mainstream thing is that

the way flexibility is gained is simply

by pulling on a muscle and then like a

rubber band it gets longer edge in the

elastic properties of the muscle like as

if tight muscles there's like some

physical wrong thing with the tissue you

like I used to envisage based on what I

was told that you know the muscles are

all knotted up or the fibers are kind of

like tangled or they're like stuck

together and that's why when I pull on

them they kind of like can't get them

but that's just not how it is that's

like this terrible awful myth propagated

by I don't know who maybe it's why the

medical establishment who wants you to

come and get massages or something

like physical things done to your

muscles to supposedly fix them but

muscle tightness is maintained by a

nervous system and you can go and even

read book babble to Selena Belarusian

guy who is very well known for

flexibility any or all these famous

techniques from lrl showed up to the

United States and trained trans people

and you know he's very smart and he

pointed out that you know it comes from

the nervous system like your brain here

then those motor cortex somewhere I

don't know exactly where and then from

the motor cortex come all these motor

neurons you know down through your

spinal cord and then they branch off

into your muscles and when you try and

do a stretch something to make the

muscles elongate let's say if you lack

the coordination or stability or

muscular control or any sort of like

physical skill that would be required to

allow your muscles go to you know let's

say say for like operate correctly in an

elongated range like if you lack any of

that than the nervous system is like on

a novice it's not trained right and it

just contracts ok now as I said I was

gonna explain them in glass so that's

the first layer now that's just a

physical layer that is one reason why

muscles can stay tight but even even

still you would think it's quite simple

you would still think you could get

results like oh okay well like in in

suits Elaine's book he says ok well all

you have to do is you have to wait out

this this process that the nervous

system goes through in which you know

you start to take your muscle into an

elongated position and then the nervous

system kind of freaks you out and then

it kind of just clamps for a while but

then it eventually goes oh no

everything's okay everything's okay

release and it releases a bit and Jim

didn't want just release like one

millimeter or something like that and

then you have to go through like the

whole process again

yeah the what he's different is reality

like it

like that like that is how flexibility

works from me these days right like now

now that I'm doing real pretty hardcore

flexibility training I can say that's

exactly how it works however it wasn't

always like that from me like years ago

when I would try to do flexibility if I

tried to do something I didn't really

have the same experience that I tried to

do now that I get now I would just do it

don't do like well I don't know I feel

nothing I just feel tightness

I just feel pain it's horrible and

nothing's happening like I could stay

here for as long as I want and if I even

just stay here my arm won't like just

goes numb and that's like and it becomes

excruciatingly painful and I don't get

this release at all like nothing nothing

happens and I could not improve my

flexibility at all so what I eventually

discovered is that there is and there's

other reasons why your brain slash

nervous system can keep your muscles

tight apart from just this physical

reason of not having enough stability

coordination or strengthen the muscle

with something like that and I

discovered this I actually explained

this in great detail in the video that I

created the cold my 1-hour muscular

tension manifesto bit of a flashy name

but basically for 45 minutes or so I

explained exactly what's going on with

this whole process of muscular tension

and then in the 15 minutes at the end I

kind of explained like my product called

the muscular tension release system but

I go into great detail what was like

ongoing to that kind of detail right now

but I explained that I discovered the

work of this German psychoanalyst named

Wilhelm Reich and he was a student of

Freud and contemporary of Carl Jung

disagreed with both of those guys on a

number of matters this I do as well

and he discovered that when he would

have clients come into therapy that you

know the worse they were the work the

more messed up they were let's just say

like the more issues they had he would

also notice that those is correlation

between that and like physical tightness

right muscular tension and he also

noticed that when he would coach people

to have like breakthroughs mentally or

he used the words psychically just to

refer to the psyche he would be like

Aden there was a releases and muscles as

well and that led him to state that

muscle rigidity and psychic rigidity are

kind of like you know oh related are two

related concepts let's say the way I

like to put it is that physical

tightness like extremely talking muscles

can be like a physical manifestation of

you know just whatever mind stuff right

like I don't want to create some Steamer

aren't that's like something that you go

to psychoanalysis

or anything like that because what I

discovered is that you can get ty

muscles from just like any regular

typical stuff right like check out these

examples right like if you if you're

like shoulders are up tight like this

right that can just be because you feel

like there's a weight on your shoulders

and the whole world is kind of like

right and I've had experiences where I

do particular exercises that I kind of

like

invented myself in a way where you know

you can do physical exercises and then

trigger a release and then you actually

notice like oh this horrible feeling or

kind of like thought that you had that

was kind of an irrational thought that

was related to ideas like that like the

weight of the world being on your

shoulders another example like no it's

very common people have these rounded

shoulders right it's like chest pulling

forward and

might sound almost too spiritual for

some people to believe but that is very

much related to you know protecting the

heart or just protecting just stopping

yourself from like opening up and just

experiencing life in a more connected

way I don't really get it for all the

spiritual stuff but sometimes you just

need to use those words or if you have

like you know low back pain and you're

you know rounded like this and kinda

right-right like even in a book there's

a book by a guy called John sana

who read a book about how back pain can

be related to anger and he would notice

patients come in and he would coach them

on anger and things like that and voila

their back pain would go away but these

are like really kind of like clear

obvious examples but sometimes like

these things can just happen all over

your body just like just one little

moment or something where you had some

small kind of thing that happened in

your life but isn't even really

significant you would never even really

think it was significant but there might

have been some emotional reaction to it

and then what there was like some

muscular tension induced due to that

experience and it just you don't really

think of it or know about but it just

goes and it sits in there and it just

kind of stays there forever until you

kind of like figure that out and you

don't have to just do it mentally you

don't have to go like therapy you can

just do like particular movements and

get the body movement moving and do

special things where you just become

more conscious of your muscles and it

kind of you can kind of just trigger all

that to kind of leave your body and

after you kind of get rid of like a lot

of that stuff like I don't know 90% of

it or whatever is something then your

body starts to feel really no

you know just it can move you know

really freely and all that stuff and

even notice that you gain muscle because

like muscle that was kind of was like

dead like completely inactive it was

just like not able to function correctly

so you gain muscle mass as if by magic

so that's a pretty good process right so

this is the kind of stuff that I talk

about on my channel like most mainstream

stuff is just like do physical exercise

get results and they don't talk about

how mind is involved at all or the

nervous system there's just like nothing

it's just like bro do these push-ups and

bench pressing going to big chest or if

you've got boots that aren't working do

a glute bridge and your glutes will be

working and if you've got tight

hamstrings and just reach down to your

toes and touch them every day and then

your hamstrings will be loose so if you

like this kind of content that's maybe a

little out of mainstream maybe a little

bit esoteric but you sense that there

might be something to it like you sense

that yeah it could be true that there's

something to do with the mind then the

subscribe to channel or you can check

out my website which is matt coke

movement calm and if you want to find

out more about that muscular release

tension system that I created that's

also my website but also created a

special website for it's called the

movement video comm so feel free to take

any of those options other than that

just people look out for more of my

videos and I'll see you soon