The Stretching Police: Dismantling the Flexibility Myth

Lots of yoga and fitness students and professionals believe that stretching is good for you, but Yogi Aaron is here to prove them wrong! Listen in to episode #1 of The Stretching Police as he debunks this myth and shares the science behind why stretching actually does more harm than good! If you suffer from pain, are a yoga student, or someone who stretches to reduce tightness and reduce the risk of injury — this video is for YOU! Learn the truth about stretching, what it does to the muscles, and how it makes you weaker and experience MORE pain!

Welcome, to Episode #2 of The Stretching Police! In today's talk, Yogi Aaron acknowledges how scary it can be to let go of our fixation on stretching — especially if you're a yoga teacher. Referencing current scientific research and data, he goes into muscle anatomy, how muscles really work, and how stretching causes our muscles to become weak and incapable of doing their job (to move our bones and allow us to do all the things we love to do with our bodies!).

  Welcome, to Episode #3 of The Stretching Police! In today's talk, Yogi Aaron takes a look into a post that someone made about Yogi Aaron's claim that stretching is harmful and can weaken muscles and lead to increased injury and pain. He also explains why it is so hard for Yogis to accept the truth that stretching is bad for you — even when the science backs this up. Additionally, you'll learn what Muscle Spindles are and how they work, how you can test your muscle strength (especially good to do after you passively stretch like in Child's pose), and much more! Tune in now!

Welcome, to Episode #4 of The Stretching Police! In today's talk, Yogi Aaron reviews another person's post where they share practices to remedy back pain. He breaks downs, from an AYAMA perspective, what the person is demonstrating and shares whether or not the practices will harm or help a person in pain.

Welcome to Episode 5 of The Stretching Police! In this episode, Yogi Aaron dives deep into the often-overlooked psoas muscle. He debunks common misconceptions about psoas tightness and reveals why the often prescribed stretching exercises contribute to back and hip pain, spinal misalignment, and other physical discomfort. You'll also discover why this key muscle is crucial for core strength, posture, and overall health.

In this eye-opening episode of The Stretching Police, Yogi Aaron tackles the beloved but potentially harmful Pigeon Pose. Despite its popularity in yoga classes worldwide, this seemingly innocent posture may set you up for long-term hip problems and pain. Yogi Aaron breaks down the biomechanics of pigeon pose, using detailed muscle diagrams to illustrate which hip muscles are negatively impacted. He analyzes footage of a common pigeon pose tutorial, pointing out how the instructor's cues for "deepening" the stretch can actually lead to muscle dysfunction and instability. You'll learn why: Forcing yourself deeper into pigeon pose can weaken crucial hip muscles The sensation of a "good stretch" in this pose doesn't mean "it's good for you!" Repetitive practice of pigeon pose might contribute to hip pain and injury Discover safer alternatives to maintain hip health and mobility without compromising your muscle function. This video is a must-watch for yoga practitioners, teachers, and anyone interested in understanding the true impact of popular stretching techniques on their body. Do you LOVE pigeon pose? How did watching this video change your perspective? Share with us in the comments!