Alethea Austin DVDs. Progress after a few weeks/months?

HannahElizabeth started this discussion · 4/9/2012

I'm considering getting the Alethea Austin Pure Splits dvd but want to know how much they've helped people who have kept doing it for a few weeks or months? How long have you been using the DVD for? How much progress have you made? Do you still see progress after a few weeks or is it mainly in the beginning when you first start doing the dvd's? How often have you kept doing them? Thank youu x

24 replies

HannahElizabeth · 4/9/2012
I'm considering getting the Alethea Austin Pure Splits dvd but want to know how much they've helped people who have kept doing it for a few weeks or months? How long have you been using the DVD for? How much progress have you made? Do you still see progress after a few weeks or is it mainly in the beginning when you first start doing the dvd's? How often have you kept doing them? Thank youu x
BeccaBuck · 4/9/2012
i've being doing the pure splits dvd pretty regularly for about 9 weeks. i've seen tremendous progress! i started off so far off the ground, it was embarassing. 9 weeks in, and i can now get about a fist from the ground on my good side. hoping that in another month or two i'll be able to get all the way down. but that might be a little ambitious, lol. i try to do it 4-5 times a week, but some weeks only get to it 2-3 times. i also have her Stretching For Pole dvd, and i love it for back and shoulder flexibility. i combine moves from that dvd with some of Veena's lessons on back mobility, and try to do that 3-5 times per week too.
tarah · 4/10/2012
i have also been doing the "pure splits" and "stretching for pole" dvd's for 8-9 weeks. except that i only do them once (or twice max) per week. in the beginning i tried doing them more often, but found that two days in a row was not beneficial to me. for example, my splits would be better on the first day than the second. i found that if i leave at least a couple of days in between stretching, i progress much further and much faster. maybe that's just me, or my muscles need more recovery time than others'. anyway, i have had amazing progress. i just got my right fronts on march 30!
PaulettePoles · 4/10/2012
I have done them for a little longer but like Tarah, not as often. I actually saw more progress and also just got my left front splits- after taking bigger breaks inbetween. I also just started resistance stretching which has helped a lot. Dont know if it was the RS or the AA videos that did it, but Igot them finally and Im sooo happy!
CatsEyes · 4/10/2012
I also started AA's pure split & stretching for pole few weeks ago. I try to do them once or twice a week and I've seen some results so far, especially in my facial which is waaaaay better now ! I already have my side splits on both sides but I can do them only if my body is really warm and I've done some stretching exercises for hamstrings and quads before, I haven't seen any progress on those....but I'm confident. I'm also doing Felix Cane's Flexibility dvd as well when I've enough time. As you said Tarah, the first week I was so motivated I started doing them every day (it's written on the dvd that you have to practise 5 times per week to see improvements) and on the third day I wasn't able to do anything and my muscles were begging for mercy so I've decided to give them some rest in between stretching and it's better now. Plus, I think Veena said in one of the streching lesson that you should stretch no more than thrice a week when you are a beginner :)
ahlemh20014818 · 4/11/2012
do you think "massage' with the foam roller can help in between the session?I make it roll under my hamstrings, quads ,I feel better after that, but does it actually help improving flexiiliy or is that only 'well being" thing?
Kobajo84 · 4/11/2012
The foam roller "massage" increases blood flow to the muscles you're rolling thus enabling your body to nourish the stretched muscles. The massaging relaxes these muscle areas by loosening the tightening areas relieving soreness. As far as the research of whether this actually improves fexibility, I don't know. I view it as taking care of my muscles- just as I'm working them tirelessly they deserve to be properly rested and nourished. I also incorporate deep breathing techniques during stretches for increased blood flow and oxygenation to my muscles and after deep stretching I take epsom salt baths and maintain adequate hydration. It's important you create a regimen that takes care of your body so as to evolve in your flexibility safely and injury free. I also only deep stretch once a week. Throughout the week if I'm poling or doing aerial, I will incorporate a lighter version of my once a week deep stretching but mainly I do the intense routine just weekly. I also will frequently utilize a tennis ball to target areas my foam roller can not properly access. I've only done the AA DVD's maybe once- I watched them both but I've never actually done the entire routines all the way through. I much rather prefer writing my own routine and following something that is specific to my body's limitations and grow with it before incorporating stretches I know are beyond my limitations. I do have goals I'd like to achieve in my flexibility, however through experience I've learned that flexibility takes a lot patience and time to achieve a desired outcome.
Crystaljng · 4/11/2012
I have bought the DVD back in December and been practicing once a week for about two months. In the second session I was able to get down to right front split. Still a bit to go on the left side. The stretch is very intense . I was so sore the next day and found it difficult to have flexibility training more than twice a week. The middle split part is not that relevant to me as I don't want to dirty my wall. I do Veena 's lesson instead and it works well.
MieleRu · 4/11/2012
Does she use resistance stretching in her DVD or some other methods?
Dancing Paws · 4/11/2012
AA, does general stretching for most of the DVD, but uses a little resistance stretching for the front splits. She aso uses dynamic and ballistic stretching (it's probably best to avoid the ballistic ones; I tried them and they were very uncomfortable.)
Veena · 4/11/2012
@ Vertical....I'm glad you've found my lessons helpful! ❤️
ORGANIC ANGEL · 4/11/2012
@Vertical, what do you mean by "dirtying your wall"? @ahlemh-Saw AA this weekend using the roller herself, so I am sure she feels they work for her.I love mine. I got the DVD's. Did 2-3x so far but haven't been able to do anything since. Love it though. she has flloorwork vids coming soon too.
ahlemh20014818 · 4/11/2012
I have both dvd's of Alethea, but I just cant do them, I feel so EXHAUSTED,feel like a whole workout, I am too tight!!!so the foam roller is a great reliever, let's see if it does any good to my flexbility, I bought one as soon as I saw Veena had one, strechting is just way to hard for me.
Rose2011 · 4/11/2012
I have both Alethea's DVD's. I started with no flexibility. I was so stiff when I started I could not even do the Pure Splits DVD. I just did the Stretching for Pole for several months. Then I started doing the Splits DVD and found Studio Veena. I am not to the floor with my splits yet, but am making good progress. I have worked up to doing AA Splits and the Back section of the Stretching for Pole DVD 2-3 days a week and Studio Veena flexibility routines 2-3 days a week. I alternate workouts during the weekdays. I have made WONDERFUL progress doing this. I also make sure I am very warm and foam roll my muscles.
ORGANIC ANGEL · 4/11/2012
@Vertical, oh I get it- you can also do that part of the DVD against the couch-that's what I do:)
ORGANIC ANGEL · 4/11/2012
I thought I once saw an interview that said her real name-but could b wrong- Is it really AA or something else, know she signs stuff Chel sometimes.
nymphdancer · 4/11/2012
Her real name is Alethea Austin and it is the only one she goes by.
Crystaljng · 4/11/2012
Angel my couch is very low and also have a soft back. So even with my short legs they are way above the top when I lie down on my back. My partner is so particular with the house I will be in so much trouble if I put my feet on it. :-D
minicoopergrl · 4/12/2012
Organic - Chel is one of the admins for her fan page. She signs it like that so you know if its her posting or Alethea posting. Chel is Castleoutsider on here and You Tube.
minicoopergrl · 4/12/2012
Does the splits DVD go through different types of splits or just the regular split? Ive been debating on getting the DVD's since they came out but I havent been too sure yet.
Dancing Paws · 4/12/2012
mini - She does the front to back splits on both sides and the middle split. She even goes over a stretch to make your toes look nice and pointed while in the air.
ORGANIC ANGEL · 4/12/2012
@mini-Thnx soooo much-that makes so much sense.... @ Vertical...I'd just wait for him to leave and then get down next to that couch and do my thang(the splits) haha...It's funny the things you'd be going behind his back just to do the splits lol...
Kayla007 · 6/2/2013
I've had the DVDs since summer of 2012 but never used them because I found out I was pregnant. I'm 2 months postpartum now and I've just started stretching again using AA's pure splits and stretching for pole. I like to do the pure splits one day and stretching for pole the next but I'm rather skeptical of her DVD's. I wish she provided more instruction so I didn't have to constantly look at the screen to see if she's still in the same stretch, and her countdown isn't very loud. In the pure splits dvd there are some stretches I simply cannot get into, such as the vertical splits against the pole (I mean seriously, do you think I can do that if I'm using this video lol).I also wish she provided more back stretches and emphasized on breathing more, for that is what really enables me to relax and benefit from the stretch. I've only done pure splits twice and stretching for pole once but I think I like Veena's stretches more, for her videos are calmer and emphasize on breathing more. I also think Veena provides more instruction throughout the stretch, which allows you to focus on your stretch without having to constantly look at the screen. I'm hoping that I can start Veena's lessons again once we are done buying our house and our situated.
Hazi411 · 6/2/2013
Paulette - who is RS please? Vertical, my husband (HWMBO - He Who Must Be Obeyed haha!) is the same - he saw me doing middle splits with my feet on the wall once, and said that I would leave marks - so now I wear socks when I do that stretch. MemphisKitten - I don't think it's anything to do with age, particularly. I did contortion when I was about 10-11 years old, and could do the front splits, and lie on my stomach with my feet tucked under my chin. That was over 40 years ago, and when I started doing flex classes again, about 2 years ago, I was more flexible than most of the girls half my age in the class. I think flexibility may be, at least in part, hereditary (anyone else have a view on this?) My Mum, at 85, is more flexible than some of the girls in their 20s/early 30s in the flex classes I go to! I am now 57 and am maybe 2" off the floor in the front splits. Middle splits, however, is a different story! I think some people have front splits flexibility, and others have middle splits flexibility, but not necessarily both. My friend who is 44 is closer to her middle splits than I am, but much further off in front splits. Maybe it's to do with the way our bodies are built - I don't know.