Did you know that under general anesthesia, your muscles become so relaxed that a doctor can bend your leg straight over your head — like a gymnast?

That “tight hamstring” vanishes. No tension. No resistance. Just smooth, effortless range of motion. Turns out, it’s not your muscles that are stopping you when you’re awake — it’s your brain.

Your body has built-in protective systems — muscle tone, stretch reflexes, and pain signals — designed to keep you from getting hurt, especially during extreme movements. Under anesthesia, those systems go offline. It’s not that you gain flexibility; you just remove the neurological roadblocks.

How do dancers, gymnasts, and your bendy nephew move like that while awake?

Because they’ve trained their brains to trust those ranges of motion. Through consistent practice, they’ve taught their nervous system: “This is okay. This won’t hurt me.” Over time, the brain adapts — and lifts the brakes.

There’s a practical takeaway here for runners. If your hamstrings, hips, or calves always feel tight, it might not be true structural tightness. Often, it’s your nervous system playing defense. The goal isn’t to force a stretch, but to gradually teach your body — and your brain — that it’s safe to move deeper.

And there’s a deeper lesson, too. Your brain often limits what you believe you can do. Part of progress is teaching yourself that more is possible. "This is okay. This won't hurt me."