The Thomas Test YTT-200 300 500 in Costa Rica and Mexico 2019

Have any of you heard of something called the Thomas test?  I had forgotten all about it until I had a conversation with someone about their tight psoas.  You know, the usual coffee house conversations normal people have.  We spoke about rehab,  pain and flexibility.  About sitting too much and all the usual stuff we health conscious yogis like to talk about.

Anyway, it got me thinking; "How flexible does a human really need to be?"  Who can really answer that question?  I guess it's a rather personal thing.  Lifestyle choices and all that play into it.  What may not be flexible for one person would be a dream come true for another.  Age and many things are factors but a basic ability to extend the leg behind you is necessary for a healthy pain-free gate while walking.  And lets face it we all like to walk without pain.

One way to see how you are doing is to conduct a simple test on yourself called the Thomas Test.  You can research it yourself but the basics are just do what the picture below demonstrates and see if your exteneded leg tries to lift up or if it can stay flat with ease.  Or maybe even your expetended leg can extend a bit further.  All of this is without pain of course.  This isn't something you push your body into.  It's just a basic measurement of how tight your hip flexors are.  It's simple, quick and easy.  A lot like my X.  The key is to have free/open space behind the extended leg.  So do it over the edge of a coffee table or open stairs.  Possibly even on the side of the bed.  

If your extended leg feels the need to lift up a bit you may consider doing more yoga or stretches that entail extending one leg back at a time.  Like for example a lunge.  Working on holding the lunge (high or low) for a minute or so each side.  Do this several times a day, especially during your work day if you sit a lot at work.  It doesn't have to be crazy deep.  No splits att eh water cooler are necessary.  Just a little opening of the psoas and the other flexors of the upper leg.  It mayeven help with lower back pain.

Give some stretching a chance.  It's proven to be good for you.  Tight hip flexors can cause all sorts of pain/problems so nip it in the bud (or help yoru students for you teachers out there) after you test yourself with the Thomas Test.

Enjoy!