If you are forcing a stretch and grimacing, you are working against your own biology. Back off until you can breathe. Ella rarely just "holds" a pose statically for five minutes. She uses rhythmic pulsing or contract-relax techniques (PNF).
But after watching her train and listening to her philosophy on mobility, I realized I had stretching all wrong. I thought it was about pulling a muscle until it screamed. Ella Reese taught me it is about ella reese - stretching
So next time you hit the mat, don't just sit there. Engage. Breathe. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll find a little more space than you had yesterday. Are you working on your middle splits or backbends? Let me know in the comments below! If you are forcing a stretch and grimacing,