Contracting vs Relaxed Stretching

Just a curiosity of mine.

 

I noted since little time that during my maximum stretch in my standing pike I contract my thighs extensors.

So I once tried to lower myself paying attention to not contracting them and I noted that I can lower much less. Moreover my left thigh starts to shake during a deep stretch.

 

During my last stretching sessions I gradually piked over the course of minutes with deep and long breaths according to the diaphragmatic respiration. I could lower myself much faster but I wanted to avoid the shake, and, in fact, I was able to touch the ground without making my thigh shake. However, if I had lowered myself more, even much slower, my left thigh would have started to shake again even if I felt I could lower more.

 

Anyway if I stretch like I'm used to doing (contracting thigh) I can touch my knees with the head, or push my whole hands palms ont eh ground and even a bit aside to increase the difficoulty.

 

What do you suggest me to do? Keeps on stretching with relaxed thighs or not?

 

Moreover, why that shake? And why to the left thigh only? I think it would be normal if I got to my maximum amplitude, but I know that I could go more lower. Moreover this does not happen with sitting pike which I do with fully relaxed thigh but, on the other, my arms fatigue to keep my ankle to let me hold the stretch.

 

Thank you

When doing a standing pike you need to keep strong thighs.

 

If you relax the front of your leg and put tension on the back, shaking can occur. Keeping the tension provides resistance to prevent the shaking.

 

Also keep in mind that one of the knee extensors is also a hip flexor, so using it will naturally take you deeper.

 

There is nothing mysterious going on here. 

 

Relax the front of your leg

 

So, I shouldn't contract my quadriceps, should I?

Sorry, I edited my post for clarity, you should contract in a STANDING pike.

Thank you very much

Hi! Sorry for upping this thread back.

 

Anyway a friend of mine and yoga enthusiast, has recently suggested me a stretch which I didn't know: the one leg standing pike.

Basically I stand on one leg while the other rest on a wall behind me.

 

Differently from the normal two leg standing pike, I am now more stable since one leg is resting and not stretching; the other leg is stretching much more than before though (which I found it pretty cool ).

So am I still supposed to strongly contract the stretching leg too?

 

Thanks

Idk about strongly contracting the hamstring, but on the standing pike in particular I get the most out of thinking bear as much weight as possible on the leg, not necessarily contract it strongly. That's just me though.