Stretching: When and How Much?

photo by Marcello Gambetti

Here’s a sight you are guaranteed to see before any ballet class: dancers draped across the barres, bodiesscattered on the floor in various contortions,stretching hips and hamstrings. Stretching is how dancers start their day, with no two routines the same. But are we really doing our bodies a favor or a disservice? When, how and how much do you stretch? Go too far at the wrong time and you can really injure yourself… perhaps for good.

photo by Bob Knight

I speak from...