can anyone else not touch their toes?

ARoulette started this discussion · 11/12/2012

Am I the only one who can't touch her toes? The first time I noticed I could touch my toes was when I was in second grade and when I asked about it more of the adults around me would just tell me it's because I have long legs and a short torso. I started stretching last month for the splits and I check every now and then to see if I'm any closer to my toes. Last night I checked and now I'm only 3" away which is great because before I started stretching I was 6' from the ground so 3" closer after a month is great for me. Anyone else out there on the same boat?

16 replies

Aviva · 11/12/2012
When I was 26 I could not touch my toes. I'm 38 now. I'd say I've come pretty far. 3" from 6' is AWESOME! Keep it up, you will get there. Don't push too hard, listen to your body.
JennyBacardi · 11/13/2012
I couldnt touch my toes before I started pole. I started warming up and stretching and now I can touch my toes. When I started I could ardly get passed my knees. You have to stretch everyday or else theres no point. Don't give up!
ARoulette · 11/13/2012
No plans of giving up at all. :)
Cherished · 11/13/2012
When I couldn't touch my toes my little sister told me to sit in a straddle position and stretch towards one side reaching for my toes and then repeat on the other side as well as stretch towards the middle. Then, try and touch the toes. It worked for me. You can try and see if it makes a difference with your progress :)
ARoulette · 11/13/2012
How long did you have to do it on each side and for how many days
Kira · 11/13/2012
meeee! I couldn't touch my toes for ages and wasn't until I was doing pole and stretching that I can touch the floor comfortably. I found that if you're trying to touch the floor from standing/bending over - lean forward/push your weight more to the center/front of your feet, your body will rock forward a bit and if you look in the mirror you will be lower and your legs straighter. And if you're sat down stretching, wiggle your butt like you're going backwards. Helps to deepen the stretch :D
Cherished · 11/13/2012
I think it was about 30 seconds each side and I was able to touch my toes right after. Another thing that helped me loosen up a bit more was sitting with one leg bent, foot pointing inwards (near the crotch not out behind the butt) while you stretch towards the opposite leg and then go into a straddle and stretch to the sides and towards the middle then try and touch your toes.
ARoulette · 11/13/2012
Thank you so much ladies. I'm going to try these on my stretch day :)
Runemist34 · 11/13/2012
Totally couldn't touch my toes for most of my life! I'm also in the "long legged, short torso" boat, but that doesn't stop me from trying! I'm pretty close to touching my toes, and if I kept up with the stretching, I would be there... but, y'know, motivation and all that :P Stretching is not one of my favourite activities! Perhaps if I saw greater results, I'd be happier... but such is life. I'm gonna keep up with it, though!
Danielle Tillie · 11/13/2012
When I started pole I could just barely brush my toes on a good day. Now I can palm the floor cold! My hips have been very stubborn. You just have to be consistent and patient. I tried to stop caring so much about the end goal and just tried to enjoy stretching for what it is. That kept me from over-stretching and setting myself back, and I just enjoyed making my body feel loosened up. It took me 2 years to reach my splits. Patience is a virtue. :)
frenchhornprof · 11/13/2012
I can't touch my toes with my legs straight out in front. But I bet if I keep working on it, I'll get there.
ARoulette · 11/13/2012
@french I know you will. Well will work on it
glitterqueen · 11/13/2012
I couldn't when I started poling, now I'm working on getting my hands flat on the floor :D
RoseMay · 11/14/2012
If you bend over from the waist and have a very rounded back to touch your toes it's mostly a back stretch (forward bend) and not a hamstring stretch. I don't know about your goals, but for me hamstring flexiblity it a lot more important (actually I barely work on back flexibility). So for me it's a lot more important how far I can get down with my back straight than being able to touch the toes with a rounded back (By now I can actually touch my toes with my back straight without being warmed up but I had to work a lot for that!) So keep the difference in mind when working on touching those toes :-)
Veena · 11/14/2012
Here are a few lessons on how to stretch properly to touch the toes, focusing on the hamstrings not the back as RoseMay mentioned. Calf stretch https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4de63270-34c8-4e99-9706-02410ac37250 Sitting Pike https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4df36f21-393c-44a4-b05a-1e3f0ac37250 Standing Pike https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4df602c3-5664-4699-94db-31930ac37250
ARoulette · 11/14/2012
@rosemay I'm working on doing it with a straight back :) @veena thank you for those links