Reciprocal Enervation Stretching

Reciprocal Enervation Stretching
By Ivon Dahl, Ph.D.
In my recent trip to Asia, athletes and
coaches told me that they combine
stretching and strength simultaneously.
However, they don’t limit this specialized
Strength-flexibility training to dance,
gymnastics or Pilates as we do in the US.
Five stretching techniques
are identified in physiology.
(1) Ballistic Stretching,
(2) Static Stretching,
(3) Dynamic Stretching,
(4) Para-neuromuscular
Facilitation (PNF)
(5) Active Isolated Stretch
(AIS)
Most of their youngsters are exposed to
Reciprocal Enervation in early years.
This principle is used throughout
life into old age for good posture
because they apply strength with
flexibility to their intrinsic muscles.
Asian martial arts are perhaps
the best example of how
they apply this modality.
When performing the Chinese splits
(the eastern intensive stretch),
one assumes the lateral leg stretch
raised on blocks with weights
to develop a flexible strength.
They always stretch beyond
what is needed in this position
as a ‘safety valve’, to prevent injury.
It is widely believed in Asia;
flexibility without the strength
to control it, is useless.
Except for Pilates, most
programs in the USA work on
strength and flexibility separately.
As the Asians advocate;
developing the body,
mind or emotion
without control
is always
dangerous.
Reciprocal Enervation
is a Pilates principle
for flexibility-strength
BALANCE
Ivon Dahl, Ph.D. M.Ed
17 IPC Pilates Master; 37yrs.
National Bodybuilder; Mr. NYC
Professional Dancer; Martha Graham