flexibility help?

ktjane · 2010-08-18T20:50:25+00:00

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

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NicciG · 11/10/2010
I'm a hopeless case with splits. My hip flexors are so tight, I'm beginning to think something is wrong with me. I've been trying for almost 4 years. Tried daily stretching for a few months and nothing. Been bikram/hot yoga 3x/week since the summer and that seems to be working somewhat. I'm deepening my lunges, stretching my hams, pulling my pigeons.... Still no splits but flexibility progress is there. Maybe in 10 years. Try resistance stretching it really really works!!
heathalynne · 11/10/2010
Thanks niccig! I found a great YouTube vid that showed me resistance stretching with the balancing quad lunges and medial ham stretches. I saw some improvement. Yay! Will look into more of these
NicciG · 11/10/2010
Thanks niccig! I found a great YouTube vid that showed me resistance stretching with the balancing quad lunges and medial ham stretches. I saw some improvement. Yay! Will look into more of these Ottersocks recommended it and I'm SO glad because I'm also Ms Inflexible 😂 and I could see an immediate improvement in my flexibility after doing the stretches. I can highly recommend the DVD called Resistance Stretching with Dara Torres, they explain all the stretches in detail and have a workout you can do at the end. It's fab!! Hope you will post a pic of you doing the splits soon 😀
vamp79 · 11/10/2010
wow thanks for mentioning resistance stretching ladies. I looked it up and it seems like it works!
heathalynne · 11/10/2010
Thanks niccig! I found a great YouTube vid that showed me resistance stretching with the balancing quad lunges and medial ham stretches. I saw some improvement. Yay! Will look into more of these Ottersocks recommended it and I'm SO glad because I'm also Ms Inflexible 😂 and I could see an immediate improvement in my flexibility after doing the stretches. I can highly recommend the DVD called Resistance Stretching with Dara Torres, they explain all the stretches in detail and have a workout you can do at the end. It's fab!! Hope you will post a pic of you doing the splits soon 😀 Yes! Dara Torres' youtube vid is the one I saw. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUPMCu7WAzA I'll definitely consider her DVD now. Hope I'll be able to post pics too... in a few months. Hahaha!
SissyBuns · 11/10/2010
I'm so glad I saw this thread. i got Bob Cooleys book awhile ago and started using his stretches and was seeing improvement. Then I stopped and moved and now I don't know where my book is. This video will tide me over until I can get a new one.
ottersocks · 11/10/2010
Anne and Steve, the two people in that YouTube video, are the ones who trained me. It's from the Dara Torres DVD, which is great. Go stretchers go!!
Svarri · 11/15/2010
Here's a nice yoga sequence on preparing to do splits that someone posted to me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EWACssf7yw It's a nice 1/2 hour practice to do as a break!
heathalynne · 11/21/2010
Anne and Steve, the two people in that YouTube video, are the ones who trained me. It's from the Dara Torres DVD, which is great. Go stretchers go!! So lucky they trained you! I have to say, those 2 simple stretches furthered my splits more than any other hamstring stretch... By far. Maybe it will be sooner than later. 🥂
ottersocks · 11/21/2010
So lucky they trained you! I have to say, those 2 simple stretches furthered my splits more than any other hamstring stretch... By far. Maybe it will be sooner than later. 🥂 Yay heathalynne!!! 🥂 If you can, I'd really recommend getting the Dara Torres DVD. The full complement of 8 lower body stretches opens up all your leg muscles, all of which need to be loose to do the splits. Your hamstring is balanced by your quads but also opposed by your groin, adductors, abductors, and outer hip muscles. They all have to cooperate to make it happen!
kasanya · 1/9/2011
@ Ottersocks I've been working with the Dara Torres DVD for a couple of weeks now and it's really great! I have one question though that I'm hoping you can answer for me. Why do they demonstrate a quad stretch in the opposing muscle groups section, but then not use it in the actual workout? Without that stretch, it seems like I'm stretching every muscle group in the legs except the quads. Thanks!
ottersocks · 1/9/2011
Hey kasanya, I'm not sure I ever noticed that, too funny. You're right of course, you do need to stretch your quads as part of the full series. The quads balance the medial hamstrings and oppose the lateral hamstrings.. Generally I have people do the full series of 8 leg stretches every time they stretch, You just never know what balancing or opposing muscle is standing in your way! Hope this helps.