Human Quilt Rack Calisthenics

Some know me as Brendan.

Some know me as Bender.

Most of the folks checking out the quilts on this site will know me as the fingers holding up the quilts in many of the photos.

Although holding up quilts for one's wife may seem like a relatively simple task, it actually requires a great deal of skill and technique that has taken me years to master. I thought I would share some of my tips to stay in fine human quilt rack form

First, one must train their arms. The burn from the build-up of lactic acid as the arms remain outstretched over one's head to prevent the quilt from touching the ground while the photographer repositions you in different settings and angles in a constant search for the right light can become quite intense and would break lesser humans. I do some yoga and qigong and the occasional set of pushups to help maintain my quilt rack arm physique.

At times, one will have to hoist larger quilts higher than the arms can reach requiring extension via standing on tippy toes. To be prepared for these instances, it is important to maintain good calf strength and ankle flexibility. Again, yoga helps. I am also an advocate for eccentric heel drops that a doctor recommended to me after spraining an ankle a few years back. These can be done standing on the balls of the feet on the edge of a step, rising up on the toes, and slowly lowering the heel below the level of the step.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, is the finger curl. The trick to any good human quilt rack photo is rolling the wrists and fingers forward whilst holding the quilt to maintain a flat quilt appearance at all times and avoid the appearance of fold back at the top of the quilt. Maintain good wrist strength and flexibility by loosening up with some wrist circles and perhaps some wrist curls with light weights. (And always make sure your hands are washed and dry before touching the quilts!)

There you have it. I hope if you serve, or aspire to serve, as a human quilt rack that these tips will come in handy in getting you in prime human quilt rack shape.

Note: I am a human quilt rack and not a trained medical professional. Please check with your doctor before beginning any human quilt rack calisthenics program.