flexibility help?

ktjane started this discussion · 8/18/2010

Hey ladies i want to know if anyone has any really good tips for stretching and flexibility? I am one of the most least flexible people EVER! i'v been working on my legs aiming for the splits for about 2 months now and don't see any improvement whatsoever, i'm doing the stretches i'v learned on here and many other helpfull websites for yoga etc and holding them for ages and even using breathing techniques but still nothing. Also my spine is just silly its so inflexible and i have no idea how to improve that and have never tried as i am scared of hurting my back but its making some moves impossible for me e.g the bow/crescent (don't get me wrong i can reach round and grab the pole ok but it just does not look ok at all 🙁 . any ideas or tips would be great thanks katie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

62 replies

Charley · 8/18/2010
Are you really warm when you stretch? Have you tried a foam roller to break up fascia? Are you holding stretches atleast 30-60 seconds? i recommend 60 seconds. Many people have seen great results from yin yoga. You might also try stretching a couple of times a day to build up that muscle memory. Are you stretching the right areas? For splits its about hammys, thighs, calves, hips and back. my stretching regiment is atleast an hour daily and sometimesI try to do it twice a day. Make sure you aren't starting at capacity but just at a mild stretch then sink deeper into them, you might find that you are able to go deeper because your body has more time to acclimate to being stretched. Over stretching can cause even more inflexibility. The thing is us inflexies need to train our bodies constantly because they have sat so long not being flexy. I am struggling right now too - I need the splits in 6 weeks and counting and I am wondering if I will make it. I will probably get knocked points at uspdf reg because I don't know how flexy I can get between now and then. Also take good care of your muscles when you aren't stretching - lots of water and minimize caffeine, nicotine and alcohol as these have a negative effect on muscles. Oh and make sure you don't do more strength training then stretching - an hour on pole equals an hour of stretch. We will get there 😀 and don't forget to check out Bendie Buddies in the chat on thursday for more tips and hints.
Charley · 8/18/2010
also instead of holding stretches longer, try doing reps...hold for 60 other side, go back hold for 60 other side - that will help too. There's no proof holding a stretch longer than a minute really does much more.
Roadkillgerbil · 8/19/2010
Thanks Charley. I'm also one of those people who has all the flexibility of a steel girder. I haven't tried the foam rollers. What's the deal with those? I can honestly say that it is possible to make drastic changes, though. My martial arts instructor (I really wish I didn't always type "marital" whenever I try to type that) said that I had the worst hamstrings he'd seen in over 3 decades of coaching, including rehab work. 6 weeks later (stretching for over 90 mins a day. 3 blocks of 30 mins) I had normal/good hamstrings. A while after that, I could kick well over my own head height. I found dynamic stretches as well as static ones to be useful, but that might be largely because of my abysmal baseline. Another trick was to actually use a clock to measure my 60 second holds. Without that, my 'stretching minute' bore little relationship to a real 'minute'. Keep at it. Consistency is more important that being extreme on the few ocassions you manage it. Oh, and talking about it isn't the same as actually stretching. ~slaps self on the back of head~ ~looks sheepish~ I'll go stretch now.
Charley · 8/19/2010
The foam roller is similar to the idea of getting a deep tissue massage. It's supposed to break up fascia which is similar to scar tissue and keep us from being flexible and getting out muscles to stretch. Fascia covers the muscles - I guess like a webbing. I learned about them from Alethea and started using them right after I warm up before I stretch. I am not sure if it's helping or if just the stretching is doing the tricks but I dropped 2 inches in a week and a half! With a little more increase my jade will be flat. For splits - I noticed I am tight in hamstrings but also my hips are kinda tight so I have been working on getting my hips to open up too. i hope that helps a little. I have been using my roller daily and it no longer hurts - so word of warning it will be painful at first but very much worth it. Try to find a really hard foam roller (the black ones.) because I found I don't feel it much on my hamstrings and calves - I have a blue one. You are so doing it right - stretch constantly - retrain the body. I am so happy for you that you ot your hammys back to normal in just 6 weeks!!!! 🥂
joni1 · 8/20/2010
The foam roller is similar to the idea of getting a deep tissue massage. Charley, what do you do with the foam roller ❓ How do you use it ❓ I'm always looking for anything that will help me with getting my splits. I started my splits training at the end of Aug 09 at 19 inches from the floor. Im 43 and was the most inflexible person I know. I was never able to do the splits as a child.I would do the eliptical for 20 min then stretch for my splits for 45-60 mins 5 days a week. I'm now 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches away from my front splits. 🥂 I was told by someone that it took them 2 years to get the front splits which was so discouraging to me but I thought It's better to stretch and work towards it than not have the splits 2 years from now. So a year into it, I feel like I'm so close and all this hard work is so worth it as I see a major improvements in the range of motion in my moves in both the pole and aerial silk. Here is a my splits progress pic. I now have great hamstring flexibility but my silk instructor said what is stopping me from getting all the way down is my hip flexors at my back leg when in the front splits. So I added more hip flexors stretches to my routine. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 🤸 🌸 🤸 DSCF3695.JPG
Charley · 8/20/2010
Congrats on your success! What an amazing accomplishment! I am still much further away than you are. You look great! I linked an article I liked about foam rollers and a good youtube video of some exercises. I feel like I am so bad at explaining and I had to research too to figure out how they work. 😂 I think it's helping me so I do recommend them. http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/flexibilityandstretching/ss/FoamRoller.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJLxruO3su0
joni1 · 8/20/2010
Thanks Charley for the compliment. And thank you so much for the links. 😛 Great explanations. 🥂 I'm off to Yogadirect.com to order my foam roller. 🫡
Veena · 8/20/2010
Foam rollers are awesome 👍 ! In a pinch you can use the pool noodles too!!! lol
joni1 · 8/20/2010
Foam rollers are awesome 👍 ! In a pinch you can use the pool noodles too!!! lol Thanks Veena. Pool noodles 😛 What a great idea. I have lots in my pool cabana in different sizes. I don't have to wait for it in the mail. OK, I'm off to the cabana to steal the kid's noodles. 🫡
ottersocks · 8/21/2010
I am a resistance stretching trainer. Until I found resistance stretching, I made little progress towards splits using static stretching, holding for minutes, alternating sides...all the things mentioned here and learned from Alethea and other bendy people. There are threads on here about resistance stretching. It's similar to dynamic stretching or PNF, but different in that that contraction is never released--you contract the muscle through the entire range of motion. Check out The Genius of Flexibility by Bob Cooley (the book, not the DVD.) He's a bit airy-fairy at times, but his principles are the basis for all resistance stretching. Also look at Dara Torres' stretching DVD. She is stretched almost daily by the people who trained me. I just turned 40. I got my front split after 2 months of solid resistance stretching. And I'm now closing in on middle splits, couple more months and I should be there. Stretching for the splits is much more than hammies. In fact, most people I see are restricted by their hip flexors, psoas, and weakness in the outer hip/glute area. I can see from Joni's picture that hip flexors are one issue here. 🙂 Good luck!
joni1 · 8/21/2010
I can see from Joni's picture that hip flexors are one issue here. Ottersocks, I have been incorporating Bob's theory of stretch resistance in my splits routine. When I started my hammies was so tight that I couldn't even reach my ankles. Now I can grab my flexed foot and touch my knees with my head and hold that stretch for 3 minutes and I am contracting my muscles the entire time. And do 2-3 reps of some stretches. I don't know of enough hip flexor exercises yet other than lunging prior to going into my front splits. Please tell me what other issues you see I need to work on as I really want to get all the way down. 🤔 Thanks in advance. 🫡
ottersocks · 8/22/2010
Yay Joni! So in the book energy series 1, do a lot of #1, 5, 6 seated, 9, 10, 13. There are other stretches for these same muscles on Dara's DVD. There's lots I can't really diagnose from a photo. But I can tell you balancing muscle groups are really key. So if your hip flexors are a problem, you want to spend a good bit of time stretching your central hammies. You also want to stretch the opposing muscle group (different concept than balancing), which is the adductor and groin muscles. Frequently by attacking other areas, you can make progress in the target. Dara's DVD explains some of this fairly well.
joni1 · 8/22/2010
Thanks Ottersocks,I'm going to reread Bob's book and highlight the exercises you suggest. I just couldn't get into his dvd.Just like I couldn't get into elastic steel splits and flexibility dvd. How is Dara's dvd ❓ Easier to get into than Bobs ❓
ottersocks · 8/22/2010
Yes, Dara's DVD is very clear and labels all the muscles and movements very well. Totally different animal than Bob's DVD. 🙂
joni1 · 8/22/2010
Yes, Dara's DVD is very clear and labels all the muscles and movements very well. Totally different animal than Bob's DVD. 🙂 Thanks Ottersocks, I'm off to order her dvd. Its quite resonable too at $19.00 and $7.00 shipping to canada. 🥂
Roadkillgerbil · 8/23/2010
I've looked for the DVD you mentioned, but in the UK it's only available as a region 1 and for £45, which is a bit too steep for my tastes (especially as I'm not sure if my DVD player is mutli-region). 😢 I'll just have to try to make do with the book (which I have ordered) and a whole lot of time and willpower. Well, that's the plan at least. ~crosses fingers~
Charley · 8/23/2010
I found the Genius of Flexibility in stock at a local Borders - I am going to go buy it today!
ottersocks · 8/23/2010
Charley and Gerbil, the book is really useful, you just have to weed through the more metaphysical stuff. If you have any trouble understanding the stretches or how to resist, please do ask me. 🙂
Charley · 8/23/2010
I'm going to be asking you tons of questions 😂 😂 😂 I have had a hard time understanding resistance stretching. I *think* I am doing it now. I really don't get anything out of static stretches. I am so believing I can have a flat jade by regionals!!!
ottersocks · 8/23/2010
Ask away! You can also send me a video if you want me to take a look. Worst comes to worse, I can always make you a video. 🙂 (You know ottersocks = Ellen Lovelace on FB, right?) Your jade WILL be flat!!!
Roadkillgerbil · 8/23/2010
Thanks for that. I will!! Though, given how much I hate stretching, I will have to make sure I don't try to count time spent typing questions to you as part of my stretching time. Otherwise, you'll be getting 1,000 word essays on my questions. 🙄 and yes, I really would usually rather write a 1,000 word essay than do my stretches. I am a very strange gerbil. 😂
brandx1969 · 8/23/2010
Ottersocks! I don't understand the resistance stretching concept! I mean how to do it or if I am doing it right? I have Bob Cooley's book and I see the stretches and read the description but I have a problem contracting the muscles : ( Maybe it's just a learning curve?
reenie aka Mysfit · 8/24/2010
Hey Joni.... The one thing I notice in your pic(and several others who are working on splits) is that your hips are not square. That back leg must be turned under and both hips need to be facing forward in order to stretch the muscle fibres in the correct way. It is a really hard habit to undo once you have gotten your body used to splits without square hips. And most of us are so eager to get down into them, that we allow this cheat to happen without even realizing it. I have spent many years as a gymnast and teaching it...... Good splits are tough to get for some people, but well worth the effort when they are done properly. Thank goodness flexibility can be trained~~~:) Straddle splits have never been mine. I am closer now than I ever was as a gymnast, but I am still not hopeful......lol I will see if I can post a pic or two later.... The foam roller is similar to the idea of getting a deep tissue massage. Charley, what do you do with the foam roller ❓ How do you use it ❓ I'm always looking for anything that will help me with getting my splits. I started my splits training at the end of Aug 09 at 19 inches from the floor. Im 43 and was the most inflexible person I know. I was never able to do the splits as a child.I would do the eliptical for 20 min then stretch for my splits for 45-60 mins 5 days a week. I'm now 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches away from my front splits. 🥂 I was told by someone that it took them 2 years to get the front splits which was so discouraging to me but I thought It's better to stretch and work towards it than not have the splits 2 years from now. So a year into it, I feel like I'm so close and all this hard work is so worth it as I see a major improvements in the range of motion in my moves in both the pole and aerial silk. Here is a my splits progress pic. I now have great hamstring flexibility but my silk instructor said what is stopping me from getting all the way down is my hip flexors at my back leg when in the front splits. So I added more hip flexors stretches to my routine. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 🤸 🌸 🤸 DSCF3695.JPG
verucablue · 8/25/2010
Duh...you know I always use the foam rollers at the gym after my work outs and my trainer uses them on me after our session...why did it not occur to me to buy some for home 🙄 ...off to Amazon... 😀
ottersocks · 8/25/2010
Ottersocks! I don't understand the resistance stretching concept! I mean how to do it or if I am doing it right? I have Bob Cooley's book and I see the stretches and read the description but I have a problem contracting the muscles : ( Maybe it's just a learning curve? Hey brandx, It can indeed be hard to figure out how to resist. Think about making a muscle with your bicep (=contracting the muscle). Now, imagine trying to hold that contraction while someone pulls your fist down and tries to straighten your arm. If you were to slowly let them pull your fist down (= let them "win"), you'd be getting a resistance stretch of your bicep. So for example, when you are doing the central hamstring stretch (#9, page 104), your arms are pulling on your leg, but your leg is "winning" the battle to move. Your legs are of course much stronger than your arms, so you don't need to contract your leg muscle as hard as you can, or your arms would never be able to provide resistance. And reenie is right, Joni's hips are not square. To do a technically perfect split, you want them square. For me, I consider it "good enough for government work" that I can get down there, hips unsquare and all. Most stretching teachers will say the same--get there first, then continue to work on opening your hip flexors, psoas, and quads, so you can start to square your hips. Hope this helps!

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