Splits – How long did it take you?

[amy]

do you know the differences between passive, dynamic, or resistance stretching? have you tried all three?

[Elektra Vallens]

In a word: yes.  Did you have a specific stretch or stretches in mind?

[MrsNaughtywed]

It took me just over a year to get all the way down. I am the most unflexible person everrr. I worked on my splits approx 3-4 times a week. Sometimes more. Sometimes less. I kind of wasn't consistant and I have no one to blame but myself. But anyways, it took me just over a year to get all the way down. It's now 1.5 years and I still don 't feel comfortable getting all the way down. And there are still some days where I regress a little. Keep working at it. It can take a long time but you will get it if you don't give up. 🙂

I suggest working on your splits after a good workout. Your body is so warm and loose after and it can stretch much more. 🙂

[Abn2538]

It took me about a year to where I could consistently and easily get into them. But for a few months I would get lazy and not stretch as often as I should… Once I started the foam roller and stretching lessons on here I started noticing a difference in about 2 weeks and then started progressing more quickly. You could also try searching stretching for splits on youtube… There are TONS of different stretches on there so you can find some that really help you 🙂
Oh and I never had my splits before… Or any flexibility for that matter lol you’ll get there!

[amy]

Are you tighter in your hip flexors or in your hamstrings? What kind of stretching are you doing now?

[GiedreB]

Girls, I am doing my splits right now. After my dance rehearsals without stretching I always go almost all the way down, there's always 3-4 cm left. But when I try at home, it's nothing similar, and I really do warm up nicely at home, although, I don't have the conditions to get THAT worn out as I am during the rehearsals, and they are just two times a week. I've had thoughts of purchasing Aleathea Austin's DVD Pure Splits because I've heard some of you had good feedbacks on it. So is it really that good and worth the money?

[Lana Lee]

I am not super bendy to begin with, but I've been working towards the splits since the beginning of January.  I have to say I am pretty close to getting the splits down packed.  It took a lot of religious stretching.  I hear you are supposed to stretch 3-5 times a day, but really I believe that is exessive and don't know how ANYONE has time to do stretchin g 3-5 times a day. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif

I personally like to stretch right before I go to bed because I find that it's super relaxing, helping me sleep much more soundly.  My stretching session normally lasts roughly between 40-45 minutes.  I try to stretch up to 5 times a week, once a day.  I youtubed a "stretch exercise for splits" and got a pretty good one.  I believe she might actually be a Veener as well https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif  It's a super long one, but I mostly do the beginning stuff, skip the entire "do these stretches when you are in your splits" and only do 1 of the back flexibility stretch exercise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUcbQkVjk8

Hope that helps you as much as it's helped me!

[UTpoler]

Aerial Amy – what kind of stretching would be best for tight hamstrings?

[o0sair0o]

And I would love to hear what to do when it’s tighter in the hip flexors…. If I could get those to let go I’d be there 🙁

[amy]

Here’s some help on hip flexors 🙂 http://aerialamy.com/blog/2012/01/17/tuesday-tips-hip-flexor-flexibility/

uT,what kind of stretching are you currently doing for hamstrings?

[Veena]

You have a resource for stretching and splits right here as well. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gifI suggest working on the individual stretching lessons first, to learn proper technique, then move on to the routines. Train no more than 3 times a week. Unless you've been stretching regularly for years. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif  https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/

[Elektra Vallens]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.  It's good to know that it's normal to take a year to go from no splits to the floor- that's what it's looking like for me.  I don't really mind, as long as I know what I'm up against- I started out thinking this would only take a couple of months! (ha ha) 

I just bought a subscription to the Veena lessons, so I'll check out the splits section.  I also just ordered the Alethea Austin "Simply Splits" DVD (heard good things on another thread), because while my regular routine has been OK so far, I know eventually I will need more active and dynamic stretches  to get that nice, flat jade.

[UTpoler]

@A. Amy – um, just standard stretching like pike (standing and sitting on the floor), reverse lunge, etc. When I do them I have the tops of my legs engaged by pushing against the floor or by pointing and flexing my toes.

[amy]

UT– I would strongly recommend that you look up resistance stretching techniques for hamstrings… the work that you're doing now is passive stretching and I honestly find that it did the least for me personally. There's a link at the end of my hip flexor blog entry for more info, but you can also check out videos here:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/resistance-stretching-with/id394928840?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 (a 99 cent iDevice app) 

or here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3zKTZFoiS4&feature=rellist&playnext=1&list=PL75DAB09D25825391

[UTpoler]

Thanks so much, Amy! I’ve read half of Bob Cooley’s book and contacted Ellen for a Skype lesson a few weeks ago. I’ll follow up on that! Thanks for the links and your responses!!!