Why doesn't a 20 minute flow workout make me feel like I have never stretched my shoulders? Why are my muscles so tight?

(it's stress - it's 100% stress)

@LianaBrooks Are you also hypermobile by chance?

@SmirkingRaven Yup! Very, very hypermobile.

@LianaBrooks That could explain it! For hypermobile folks, our muscles tend to have to overcompensate for the extra loose ligaments after stretching. Static stretching is bad for hypermobile people. We have to do a mix of active and end range work--prep, reinforce, strengthen, otherwise the tension just remains or gets worse. I danced for years and never realized this until I started training for circus and doing active flex work--such a difference.

@SmirkingRaven I used to be super active, but I ruined my knee about ten years ago, and then had severe seasonal depression in Alaska, so every time I get back to working out it's a disappointment and hard.

I'm trying to bribe myself to keep at it for the next few months to avoid going back to physical therapy. Do you have any (very gentle) workout recommendations?