Donald Chu, PhD, PT, CSCS A Leading Authority in Sports Medicine Director of Athercare Fitness & Rehabilitation (Castro Valley, CA, USA) Our athletes and patients have found the device to be very useful in maintaining a healthy body as well as improving their performances. We have used the Flexcushion in our practice of physical therapy and performance development for athletes for some time now. I personally use it in my home to maintain range and flexibility in my low back and lower extremities. Our athletes and patients have found the device to be very useful in maintaining a healthy body as well as improving their performances. Our youngest case study is a 13 y/o male golfer with a 2 handicap. He is in the pubescenet stage of develpment and although he wants to develop strength; he does not want to lose his great swing technique. The Flexcushion has been instrumental in helping his overall development. Our NFL players like the Flexcushion for maintaining hamstring and hip flexibility prior to begining their training programs. As the Flexcushion was initially developed for work with Sumo wrestlers, these athletes who weigh over 290 pounds each are able to relate to the stretching techniques and methods available on the Flexcushion. Even our low back and hip patient poulation are able to stretch so much more effectively with this device, so much so, that we use it across the board in our rehabilitaiton programs as well. I highly recommend the Flexcushion for increasing and maintaining a healthy low back, and flexibile and strong trunk area! Michele Olson, PhD, FACSM, CSCS Professor (Exercise Science, Human Performance Laboratory) at Auburn University Montgomery (Montgomery, AL, USA) Author of "The Doctor Is In" published in the July 2008 issue of Pilates Style Magazine Great for Hamstring Stretching In my experience with both athletes and adults participating in Pilates, hamstring and hip flexor tightness is common and it is difficult to position the athlete/client properly to maximize hamstring lengthening at both the origin and insertion. The Flexcushion tilts the pelvis anteriorly so that the attachment of the hamstrings at the sitz bones receives an appropriate amount of lengthening while keeping the spine in neutral. The Flexcushion not only provides for proper positioning, it allows the athlete/client to "FEEL" the proper position for effective stretching. Lisa Yumi Michelle Actress and Model www.modelmayhem.com/lisayumi (San Diego, CA) I love Flexcushion and now use it in my daily workouts ! As an actress and model, I've always stayed in shape, but because of lower back problems, floor exercises were difficult for me to do without straining my back. I went to the IHRSA convention in 2008 and came across the Flexcushion. It was perfect for me because the angle and firmness of the wedge kept me in a netural posture, alleviating back pain, while allowing me to stretch even further and get more out of my floor exercises. This year, I heard that Flexcushion was going to be back in the States for the Inner IDEA conference, demonstrating how the Flexcushion can be used for yoga and Pilates. I attended the demo classes and it was fantasic. More support and more options for adjusting difficulty than the standard mat. I love Flexcushion and now use it in my daily workouts ! Stacy McCarthy a National Presenter and a Leading Yoga Expert www.yoganamastacy.com (Rancho Sante Fe, CA) If you are a yoga teacher, I highly recommend the Flexcushion ! I see many students with such tight hips that it creates restrictions in other parts of their body. The sacroiliac joint together with the hip flexors (iliopsoas muscles), iliac joint, piriformis, aductors, tensor fasciae latae, gracilis, perineum, quadratus lumborum, are all interlinked and interrelated with your back, so your quality of life is subjected to how you use and train these muscles. The Flexcushion offers support & proper positioning allowing students to move safely into yoga postures that target these areas. By using the Flexcushion, students won�ft be inclined to force themselves into a pose, they�fll be able to feel a deeper lengthening of the muscle. This is the best & most versatile prop I�fve experienced for creating freedom in the hips, abdominals & spine. Katherine & Kimberly Corp Co-founders ofPilates on Fifth (New York City, NY) We thoroughly recommend the Flexcushion to all Pilates mat class teachers! The Flexcushion has been a great addition to our Pilates mat classes. The Flexcushion enables clients who need more help and support execute the exercises properly. By providing support for the lower back in many abdominal exercises, especially the ones that target the lower abdominals, clients can strengthen their core without placing stress on their lumbar spines (lower backs). For clients who can't sit upright on their pelvis due to tightness in the low back, hip flexors or hamstrings, the flexcushion is an excellent prop for helping them maintain a neutral pelvis while seated. The flexcushion is durable, versatile and lightweight making it ideal for clients and teachers to use with ease. We thoroughly recommend the flexcushion to all Pilates mat class teachers! Laura Sachs Body Mind Fitness (San Francisco, CA) The Flexcushion can be the Ultimate Yoga Prop replacing the block! Yoga builds strength and flexibility. Strength and flexibility do not usually go together. The beauty of practicing yoga is that we can attain a balanced level of strength and flexibility. The Flexcushion can be the ultimate yoga prop replacing the block. The Flexcushion allows students of yoga to have a base from which to reach and lengthen. The Flexcushion allows individuals to create a base that perhaps their strength or flexibility would not otherwise allow. The Flexcushion is a wonderful addition to any stretching, yoga or Pilates class! Tony Moreno, PhD, CSCS Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI) a very useful tool in order to optimize body posture and postion ! Flexcushion is fantastic! I use it every morning when I stretch and find it to be a very useful tool in order to optimize body posture and postion when stretching particular areas that are typically difficult. Thank you so much! Dominic Ahuna, MBA, CSCS High School Sports Performance Coach, State Record Holder in Weight Lifting (Honolulu, HI) I found the Flexcushion allowed me to achieve greater range of motion! As a former football lineman, rugby prop, and now competitive weightlifter (6',300 lbs), it is sometimes hard to achieve a deep stretch due to my body mass. I found the Flexcushion allowed me to achieve greater range of motion, as well as made static stretching much more comfortable and enjoyable. I would recommend it to all of my athletes! Hyeon Kim, ATC, LAT Graduate Assistant Trainer at Auburn University at Montgomery (Montgomery, AL) Great Helper for Trainers! Our men�fs soccer team has been using the Flexcushion for their conditioning. Unfortunately lots of athletes have a hard time stretching their hamstrings because it is sometimes painful and hard to do it without a partner. However using the Flexcushion provides a proper stretch on those muscles in their lower extremities. Also the attached DVD enables them to stretch easily & properly on their own. Meanwhile, trainers can take care of other athletes. As a result, the Flexcushion can help trainers as well as athletes. Because of its size, it is portable. I definitely recommend it to all sports and clinical settings. Andrew Kurek Personal Trainer (Nashville, TN) As a premium fitness tool ! I have been using your product since then. It is a simple and effective way to get my clients stretching properly. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, and I will recommend the Flexcushion to family, friends, clients, and fellow trainers alike as a premium fitness tool. Taku Watanabe (Chief Trainer) Loco Care Sports Massage (Tokyo, Japan) To prevent injury, and to contribute to performace for athletes We use Flexcushion when we act as Athletic Trainer for athletes in such sports as baseball, soccer, track & field, martial arts, etc. The flexibility around hip joint is commonly very important for all sports, and we use Flexcushion, especially to stretch adductor muscles and hamstrings. Most of the athletes and teams have difficulty on stretching one's adductor muscles and hamstrings. But Flexcushion makes it easier. All of athletes who try Flexcushion automatically like the function of the Flexcushion ! For athletes and traininers, I strongly recommed it. Dr. Yoshizumi Yamaguchi Daikanyama Yamaguchi Seikotsuin (Tokyo, Japan) To improve the Position of Spine, and Sacral Movement! 1. To acquire right posture naturally By using Flexcushion as chair, you can easily raise the angle of sacral against the lumber spine, and acquire right posture naturally 2. To prevent back pain Lack of physical workouts sometimes lead to back pain, weaken the movement of sacral joint. If you sit on Flexcushion and move your pelvis forward and backward, you can easily feel the movement of sacral and it is a good workout as well. 3. To ease your back pain To do stretching exercise with Flexcushion may ease your back pain, as it would push your sacral forward, and would widen the range of movement around hip joint. Yukie Aida (female) KEE'S Announce School Instructor (Tokyo) Easy to do stretching exercises! With Flexcushion at home, it is easy to do stretching exercises. I especially like "hamstring stretch" on Chart "K". With its its materials, even with angles, it is not slippy at all. I also like "Chest Stretch" on Chart "E". It's easy to use at home and it requires little space to store. Emi Kuwahara Tokyo, Japan Good for all family members ! I use FLexcushion for stretching, before and after running for long distance for health. It is very easy to stretch adductor muscles and hamstring, and it certainly helps me prevent injury. Even I use it when I watch on TV at home. My friends say that I got better posture after using it for 3 months ! My dad, who used to have constant backpain, has now no backpain problem, thanks to Flexcushion ! It is good for all our family members ! Takayuki Takeda Saitama, Japan As good as rumours ! Flexcushion is good product, exactly as I heard from my colleagues. My daughters, who do Track & Field, love it, too. Thanks to Flexcushion, I became more flexible. Thank you very much! Yukio Sakata (65 y/o) President, Nihon Ado (Tokyo, Japan) Backpain has gone!! I spend 5-6 minutes for stretching with Flexcushion twice a day. Now my backpain is gone! I feel more comfortable when I play golf. Now I can swing golf club stronger than before, and can drive farther, although my score is somehow unchaged... I will continue streching with Flexcushion even for short period of time. T.M.(Female) Flight Attendant (Tokyo, Japan) Now, I can do stretching exercises! I found big advantage of Flexcushion, when I do "splits". Using Flexcushion is like someone is pushing my back to help stretching exercises. It is an awesome product! With Flexcushion, now I can do stretching exercises. Same for my husband! I also like streching upper body (photo "E"). This pause can ease me very much, and it has massage effect. Flexcushion is light and durable. Hidetaka Kita (male) Manager of Electronics Company (Osaka, Japan) Using my weight naturally for stretching workouts It is very nice as I can use my own weight for stretch workouts. Without it, my big stomach disturbs.. But with Flexcushion, easy to do stretching. Very simple design, but it really helps me. I also sent it my Mom a gift, and she also liked it! Koji MUTO (28y/o, Male) Cuisinier (Hakuba, Japan) Miracle ! I had a traffice accident and my hip joint was disclocated then. Pelvis was broken and the unbalanced, because of the injury. I used to play basketball, but I could not move as before, because of the accident. Now with Flexcushion, I regained flexibility, and my pain is gone, and can play sports again. Thank you very much! Chika Hashimoto (female) (Chiba, Japan) Now I can enjoy shopping! Kneepain and backpain is gone! I played basketball at high school and I got my knees and back injured. By doing stretching exercise for 15 minutes every day, I gained flexibility around hip joint and pelvis, in addition, knees and back pain have gone! Finally I can enjoy shopping for long time. Takashi Yoshida(30 y/o male) Tochigi, Japan Back to normal life with Flexcushion! I was in hospitald for a month last year, and I could not move myself enough because my muscles got lost flexibility. I used Flexcushion for rehabilitation, and it makes it easier to do "Stretch" and "Training". Thanks to Flexcushion, I feel like I regained flexibility and now ready to do regular workouts. I'd like to continue to use it. Tadayoshi Nishimura (35 y/o, male) Rugby Player (Tokyo, Japan) Good to kick farther, and to prevent injuery By using Flexcushion for stretch, my motion range for kicking has increased. Thus, now I can kick rugby ball farther than before. By gaining more motion range around hip joint, my athletice performance also improved at this age. It is really amazing. It also helps to prevent injury. I wish I had known Flexcushion much earlier.... Powerful Kayo Health Club Instructor (Tokyo, Japan)Creator of "Martial Yoga" Very effective tool for personal training�I I use Flexcushion for Yoga, and personal training for my clients. It is good for those who don't have enough flexibility, as Flexcushion makes it easier to keep one's pelvis at neutral position. Thus, clients can smoothly enjoy Yoga and other core training. All my clients praise the cushion and now many of them buy the cushion for their exercise at home. I really recommend it for all instructors�I Akiko Asami (female) Dancer (Shizuoka, Japan) Good for hip up ! I became a monitor user for Flexcushion, as SANTEPLUS is our neighbor. After a few months, I lost weight around my stomach, and I feel much shaped. Thank you very much, SANTEPLUS! *Thank you very much for your comments! *We are welcoming any user's voice. Please send us e-mail toinfo@santeplus.jp