Stretching and Flexibility

Ammageddon started this discussion · 5/14/2009

Hello! I have more dumb questions 😛 Can you guys all do the splits? I've been stretching splits specifically for about 6 months (cause I knew I was getting a pole) and I'm a little closer, but still a loooooooong way off. Some of the moves look really garish if you cant have your legs straight. Are there alternatives? And do you guys do stretches to get more flexible or does the poling do all the stretching for you? ok 🙂 dumb questions over for now!! xxx

7 replies

Lisa · 5/14/2009
Not everyone can do the splits... I can almost do the jazz splits (legs in front and back of you), and that's after months and months of stretching, really focusing on my quads. I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never be able to do the side splits because of being horseback rider my whole life. I've spent over a decade trying to squeeze my legs TOGETHER and thus have built up muscle that can't stretch outward. 😕 I've even had to have physical therapy for those muscles because it led to some... um.... lady problems. 😳 Also, some people are just anatomically not able to do the full splits. Their joints just don't bend that way. I wish I was more flexible, cuz I agree that some pole moves just look kinda dumb without being able to really spread your legs. My inverted V is just pathetic... 😂 Have patience though. It's never good to force your body to do something it isn't ready for. And I stretch off the pole and on the pole. Try doing other stretches besides just attempting the splits. I do butterfly stretches, hamstring stretches, quad stretches, and some other special stretches my physical therapist gave me.... 🫡
Veena · 5/14/2009
Increasing your flexibility can take time. There are a few things that affect flexibility, genetics, (structure of the joint) connective tissue elasticity within muscles, tendons or skin surrounding a joint, also strength of the opposing muscle groups. Here are some quick tips for stretching: static stretching is safest and most effective. That means no bouncing, 🤸 Breath, your body needs oxygen, long slow breaths into the stretch. Never stretch a cold muscle, you put yourself at risk for injury and you wont get a good deep stretch that will cause noticeable change. I stretch every day BUT I do my longest most intense, lower body stretching on the days I train legs, so I"m really warm. One more thing be sure to take your time to hold the stretch, a few seconds, will not be enough to cause noticeable change. Give yourself time. 🌸
Foxy_Rei · 5/14/2009
I can't do splits, if that makes you feel better. I can do like a half-split thing with the back leg straight behind you and the front one bent in front of you, and I'm nowhere near a middle split. One of my goals is to start stretching every day towards doing splits and being able to get at least one form of them! I'd love to be able to do a jade split on the pole and actually get my legs flat... *sigh* Dunno if this would help you or not, but this is one of Veena's videos she put on YouTube of stretching for splits. Maybe these are ones you're already doing, but it can't hurt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZMEGqdgGRs
Natalie · 5/15/2009
I can't do splits, but doing yoga has helped my flexibility a lot, and since I started poling I've been stretching daily after my workouts. I can get pretty far down though, maybe a foot and a half off the ground. Hopefully someday I'll get into a full split 😀
Novadog · 5/17/2009
I agree that some pole moves don't look good without the splits. My pole jumps look STUUUPPPIDD. But, I think good form has alot to do with it, pointing the toes and tensing the legs and such. Nx
Ammageddon · 5/20/2009
Thanks everyone! and thanks so much for that link! I was already doing them but not properly it seems! hehe 😀 Thank you, you are all such legends!
Former member · 5/20/2009
i definitely can't do splits, and i kind of doubt i ever will be....but it can't hurt to keep stretching. i did read once that having a flexible back generally means you'll have stiff hips. i t hink im the poster child for that because i definitely can arch my back really high, but my hips are as flexible as a wooden door. everyones tips on here were so helpful though!!! 🙂