Props Used

The MANS ZOOM Active Stretching class requires a minimum of props.
Most important is the rope used primarily for assisting leg stretches.

1. Rope or Yoga Strap

2. One Yoga Block or substitute

3. Yoga Mat or soft Carpet

4. Pillow [A pillow to lift your head while lying on the floor will allow you to view your ZOOM screen and follow along more easily.]

Length
The standard Active Stretching rope length is eight [8] feet.

Rope Diameter

Rope the thickness of one half inch or five eights inch is a comfortable size for most men.
For a really soft rope, three quarter inch diameter rope is my personal choice.
The diameter strictly depends on your preference and how much you want to spend.

Purchasing Your Rope

Rope suitable for Active Stretching can be purchased at any good hardware store.
Ask for marine or equestrian rope that is woven, not twisted.
It should feel soft, be very flexible, and wrap around your hand easily and comfortably.

Also, check that it is solid woven. It DOES NOT want to have a core filler. If it has a cotton core you cannot treat the ends effectively to prevent fraying.

Usually when purchasing your rope someone in the store will cut the length of rope you request, and they will put masking tape at the cut ends to prevent those ends from fraying. Some stores will automatically fuse the ends of the rope to prevent fraying by cutting your requested rope length using a heat knife.

Preparing/Finishing Your Rope At home

If your rope ends have not been fused for you at the store, take a lit match or other heat source to each end of the rope and carefully melt and fuse the many cut fibers of each end together. I use a putty knife to press the heated fibers together on a block of scrap wood.
Do not use your fingers to pinch the fibers together! You will burn yourself badly!

Rope Substitutes
Substitutes to use for a rope might include a bathrobe belt, a jump rope, wash line rope or a yoga strap. Creative substitutes are old neckties tied together, a strip of fabric from an old worn out bed sheet, a long soft dog leash or a lightweight long towel.
Use your imagination.

A stretchy exercise strap [Theraband] is NOT recommended because it will somewhat cancel out the stretch you are attempting to accomplish.

Do not buy stiff plastic spiral twisted nautical rope, it will not work for stretching.
It cannot bend easily or comfortably around your foot or hand.
Avoid twisted rope that is nylon, cotton, or polypropylene.

EXERCISE BANDS

An elastic stretchy exercise band is NOT APPROPRIATE to use for Active Stretching.  A strap with stretch negates the assistance you are offering the Active Stretch and overrides the control you have over the force of the stretch. Always use a non elastic prop for assisting Active Stretching.

A single yoga block is used for one short stretch sequence.

Substitute Yoga Block

A substitute for a Yoga block could be the seat of a chair, a coffee tabletop, or a stack of books.
One student uses a coffee can.