Is any particular technique recommended for use while holding the stretches?

E.g. should we perform contract-release cycles? Just try to relax as much as possible? Contract the agonist muscles? Compose a string quartet? 

You may engage in contract/release if you are feeling froggy on a given day.  Otherwise a simple hold will be fine on other days.

Regardless of which you utilize, you should be encountering moderate discomfort.  To put that into perspective, there should be some evil thoughts directed my way, but not death and mayhem.  

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

Thanks, Coach!

Coach Sommer said:

You may engage in contract/release if you are feeling froggy on a given day.  Otherwise a simple hold will be fine on other days.

 

Regardless of which you utilize, you should be encountering moderate discomfort.  To put that into perspective, there should be some evil thoughts directed my way, but not death and mayhem.  

 

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer