The document discusses Ki-Hara, a hands-on technique for improving flexibility and facilitating injury recovery. Traditionally used by elite athletes, Ki-Hara uses concentric and eccentric movements to stretch and strengthen muscles. During a session, muscles are lengthened and contracted simultaneously, taking them only as far as they can resist to avoid overstretching. This ensures muscles are strong throughout their full range of motion. Ki-Hara sessions strengthen and stretch the body in all planes of motion, mimicking real-life movement. Benefits include increased flexibility, reduced injuries, stronger muscles, better balance, and relief from pain.

1. Why should you try Ki-Hara?
By Estelle Harford, Stretch Therapist, Ki-Hara Master Trainer
Is there something standing in the way of you accomplishing your fitness goals?
Maybe you want a better golf swing. Or you want to make sure that as a cyclist you
are able to use your hamstrings properly instead of being quad dominant. Perhaps
as a runner you need to be more explosive or have more endurance. Incorporating
Ki-Hara into your routine can help you.
Ki-Hara is a hands-on sophisticated approach for improving physical flexibility and
facilitating injury recovery. Traditionally Ki-Hara has been available to elite athletes
performing at a professional or Olympic level. Ki-Hara uses concentric and eccentric
movements to stretch and strengthen muscle tissues.
During a session your muscles are being lengthened and contracted at the same
time, so your muscles are only taken as far as they can resist. This protects your
muscles and eliminates the potential for injury or over stretching a muscle. The
basic concept is that your muscle needs to be strong throughout the entire
movement. It is not how long a muscle is, but whether the muscle is active during
the whole movement.
In an assisted session your body will be strengthened and stretched in all planes of
motion, which mimics how we move in real life. We use a series of rotational and
diagonal patterns to get deep into the muscle fibers to allow for a release of tension
or muscular imbalances.
Some of the benefits of incorporating Ki-Hara into your life are
 Increased flexibility
 Reduction in sports related injuries
 Increased muscle strength and muscle growth
 Increased muscle tone
 Reduction in chronic back, shoulder, neck, elbow, hip pain
 An entire body workout
 Improved balance and posture
Estelle Harford is a Stretch Therapist, and a Ki-Hara Master Trainer. She is the
founder of Stellar Strength and Wellness. You can contact her at
Estelle@stellarstrength.com.