JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?t<2/3?`ہh): quB*")SV>*2XWړild;iT}B{Qq U!>QSV qځtƌ/R4^‹׏[.z &@mV/XHJMX[XHڥX۵&H!Nҗ'zG#phv⫻Tw)j`@QMlJ??ʊ oR-E;-]aJȻP{S e~dFUTeyڭ2QQp+SRmR!K۵KNNkUWtYP(Qr͕İDe"ug8d t/DZ\=Ś`zvj*G&;[5* +s pp33޽}GTʿJbuҦOZAd=F=)ǥ0.G&P~LRV HTSHW*^y8D>TVoQր+;@?Oi}c4OKSOLD%O4ӥLyL?ҁǧJL{ 0=!Xo.NK0Ҵ :tOľ#_XJpzqӼ+Ob.d=  6EE&ϤKG&~sYi7FPXA#Kvf"Vڋ_Zy0UmtuFC+c\"]>9eiU.jVլ$ _3 S4SH^[֚6 ğZ7V6 -H^P*-rAQRXB-ƳT.yQSVDE-:}Ei!SO Z@++@? ZXcQSIRH af%4)t@=tOIP ;`i$HAf8 ?ͩ..౪JMźfqvb$0?IXi:}}QCogԲg/U( ߗ5|6{G{iG/*"fV@?y]/ Ogg< O!H<\ɾyeRIj%iEԓ’ A?ִCd[ksW oW. f\k'PEVnu [; ;F:Ҝ!Mvz:NWr:^4oƲ*zh-FOy{P;οEM'n~:jW?٥VREFIb".i1a5=\5Jmftc9RqG,^ų KX~j ˭VHXu"2Dˀ{. PUS!Oyybx)D 3HXxY/\}+>_yn?JnEo +r9_/'[ZӍ{捐psڕl9"r7`N r9tJ W !YCګ,fc<X*+}dBf 3u~-4cdu-f#c>{ϑ$֜d&0ܰ=0/qƣ/׮@jc>_T+g4]厁qQ?_Gyj3ƺ  Vr()])I*65 ]$O~TQU_M=6CXϽXv֒?aYŔe S"~u+bzPfI7sɮ5ztmRP<Th8Dd-8C!hQlpF[\f5nvӱ~\8:bhCdqj3Aw0RͭGXp}$<ǥQiBRXp G$z!w*9Vd#C팻TIj g#'ֱu{;gSa9 tRBXGsLlooΔFߝ2Fg#Dg{V?qlrt ԛ,/ pieTE-{֬1 Q9TO0zsȅ 2t er?ZL5sP}S7yUYZ M9;Jqj+*g-?tNn progress by trying to get a deeper stretch each week.<br><br>Equipment & Variations<br><br> The BFS SLDL offers four choices for equipment: an Olympic bar, a hex bar, a standard one-inch bar, or dumbbells. Figure One shows Matt Shepard using a Hi-Hex bar. To get a deeper stretch without extra equipment, simply use a wider grip as shown in Figure Two. To get the deepest stretch possible, you should have a platform as shown in Figure Three. <br><br>The BFS Technique<br><br>Start erect with a clean grip as shown in Figure Four. Do not use an alternate grip as in a heavy dead lift. Begin the straight-leg dead with a very slow and controlled movement. Keep your legs straight with the knees locked (not hyperextended) at all times. When you do a hamstring stretch, you can t bend the knee in the slightest. If you do, you take out the stretch and defeat the whole purpose. Same thing with the BFS Straight-Leg Dead Lift. If you bend the knees, you defeat the purpose. Go as deep as you possibly can (see Figure Five). You can even pause at the bottom before coming back up. Always remain slow and controlled. It is not uncommon to see the hamstrings shake. This is good. It is a tough exercise when done this way. <br><br> <br>Why do some criticize the locked knee approach? If you lift with a heavy weight with locked knees, there is a lot of stress on the back of the knees, which is not good. However, since we are lifting with such a light weight, this criticism is totally unwarranted. <br> <br>Why do some criticize the rounded back approach? You can do the straight-leg dead lift with a straight back, but I feel you can also stretch the lower back with our technique and get a better hamstring stretch because you can go deeper with a rounded back. Criticism comes from the perceived danger, but that too is an unwarranted criticism because we are lifting with such a light weight. Look, it s like bending down and to