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Thread: becoming flexible

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    Default becoming flexible

    I'm trying to become more flexible and i need to know ways to do that should i try Yoga if so what beginner Yoga videos should i try

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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    hmmm most ppl will prob say yoga, it really does help. sorry i don't have suggestions on any vids tho.

    does anyone know anyone that ever accomplished being able to do a split in adulthood? it's something you have to learn in gymnastics b4 the age of 9 right?



    i can't scientifically back up this claim, but my first intro to yoga was in hs, a teacher would come in every monday......we were all beginners.....3 people stood out as the most flexible.....me, this boy peter, and this girl who might've had an ed....but we were the 3 vegetarians in the class! i've also talked to other really flexible ppl in a yoga class to find out that they too were vegs, and with no prior gymnast experience or anything.

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    God/dess kitty260's Avatar
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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Grrr.....I envy the naturally flexible people!

    It can be done in adulthood but it can take YEARS depending on how bendy you were for starters. Me? Not bendy in the least.

    The best tip I got was from another (older) showgirl I was working with. She said the first time she ever did a full split was on stage because that's where she would practice everything. I took her advice and started incorporating a lot of stretching moves (sexified, of course!) into my floor show and I noticed a huge difference in my motion range in just three months. I figured that I had to do floor work for every show anyways so it was a good practice time. Riding on escalators and t.v watching time are also really good for sneaking in some stretching.
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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Quote Originally Posted by kitty260 View Post
    Grrr.....I envy the naturally flexible people!

    It can be done in adulthood but it can take YEARS depending on how bendy you were for starters. Me? Not bendy in the least.

    The best tip I got was from another (older) showgirl I was working with. She said the first time she ever did a full split was on stage because that's where she would practice everything. I took her advice and started incorporating a lot of stretching moves (sexified, of course!) into my floor show and I noticed a huge difference in my motion range in just three months. I figured that I had to do floor work for every show anyways so it was a good practice time. Riding on escalators and t.v watching time are also really good for sneaking in some stretching.
    Floorwork stretching examples? I have a good idea, but Never hurts to hear other people's.

    I'm working on my stretchyness too, though I was stretchy as a kid.

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    Aw man...I suck so bad at explaining stuff like this. If I wasn't so pregnant I'd make a youtube tutorial about it. My descriptions are going be absolute crap.

    The most effective one I used was when you lay on your side and sort of pull your leg up over your head. If you prop yourself up with your arm it looks really impressive even if you're not very flexible at all. Repeat twice per side per show if you've got a decently long song and after a while you'll find that you can pull your leg up really high. That one is good for an eventual side split. If I was doing it near the pole and was briefly conversing with a customer I would prop my leg against the pole and sort of push myself against it so I'd be getting an effortless constant stretch and nobody was any the wiser. *facepalm* I'm sure that description sucked horribly.

    There's also this thing I'd do with the pole that involved standing with my back to it and sliding down making it LOOK like I was going to do a front split but instead I'd go down as far as I could (to get the stretch) and then pull my legs back together all fancy-like on the way down to the floor so I'd end up sitting on my bottom. With much practice, it looked pretty good and again, nobody had any idea that I was actually doing a sneaky-stretch.

    Another good one for lower body flexibility and abdominal toning is this move where I'd be on my knees with my legs together, then slowly part my bent legs and lay down until I was flat on my back on the stage (legs still bent under me.) Lay there for a bit, enjoy the stretchy sensation, then use your abs (NOT YOUR BACK!) to pull yourself back up. Dudes love it. Do it slowly and you'll get a better stretch and make your abs work harder to pull yourself back into a kneeling position. Slow is sexy!

    My brain hurts after trying to explain this stuff. I'll be back later when I can think of more.
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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    No they're good! I do the first one and a modified last one. I'm so nervous to split onstage. I'm getting closer, but I'm worried I'll hurt myself or look foolish.

    I do a lot of back/arm stretches on stage-the cat pounce thing from The S Factor is great. And the lacing your fingers together over your head thing-such a good stretch for the upper back and rib muscles.

    Pilates has also helped my flexibility a lot.

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    Oh yeah, practice that second one a lot before you try it on stage, haha! It has the potential to look really funny and really hurt you if it goes wrong. I learned that one the hard way.
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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska View Post
    does anyone know anyone that ever accomplished being able to do a split in adulthood? it's something you have to learn in gymnastics b4 the age of 9 right?
    Nope. I was able to do my first splits at about 32 y.o.


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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Quote Originally Posted by Paris View Post
    Nope. I was able to do my first splits at about 32 y.o.
    There is hope! I haven't done one since I was maybe 10.

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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Quote Originally Posted by Paris View Post
    Nope. I was able to do my first splits at about 32 y.o.
    Ahh that's exciting!

    One on my NY resolutions was to improve flexibility and do the splits again. I could do them when I did ballet a few years ago but since then I've lost it.
    Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    yes, you can become more flexible. just keep practicing, keep going a little further when the previous position becomes comfortable. that's how i whipped my back into a super-flexible bendy back.

    i'm still working on doing the splits, though. i've never been able to do those.
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    I can get both my knees behind my shoulders and I'm known in the area as being the 'contortionist' of the industry. I don't think what I d so far is contortion at all, but some photos I've looked up say they are. Anyway, it's just a matter of practice. I do shows about 10 times a week, so I'm stretching for half an hour ten times a week. Now I'm not saying you have to do it this much; but I went from simple splits to one leg behind head to both to falling into the splits (either way) from a fullon standing position to bending over backwards and keeping my head 1" from the ground with no hands and taking my bra off...all in about three years. I started my flexibility at around 18 where I couldn't even do a split; so try it! Practice practice! It's basically just keep stretching...and keep stretching and keep stretching... but don't ever go further than you can, you'll hurt yourself. It'll slowly get further on it's own,


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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska View Post

    does anyone know anyone that ever accomplished being able to do a split in adulthood? it's something you have to learn in gymnastics b4 the age of 9 right?
    I am 23 and wasn't able to do splits before I started at my current club 6 months ago.

    STRETCH BEFORE WORK!!! Seriously! Also, the tips about stretching during your show are good. I do those also. I also sort of bend over each leg all sexy like and when I come back up I arch my back and slap my ass. Men seem to like it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by kitty260 View Post
    Grrr.....I envy the naturally flexible people!

    It can be done in adulthood but it can take YEARS depending on how bendy you were for starters. Me? Not bendy in the least.

    The best tip I got was from another (older) showgirl I was working with. She said the first time she ever did a full split was on stage because that's where she would practice everything. I took her advice and started incorporating a lot of stretching moves (sexified, of course!) into my floor show and I noticed a huge difference in my motion range in just three months. I figured that I had to do floor work for every show anyways so it was a good practice time. Riding on escalators and t.v watching time are also really good for sneaking in some stretching.
    There is absolutely no reason why you can't get yourself up to splits level of flexibility in adulthood you just have to work hard at it.

    There a number of things you can do apart from regular stretching such as -

    1 - PNF Streching

    http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/pnfstretching.html

    2 - Vibration platform Stretching

    3 - Ballistic Stretching

    http://people.bath.ac.uk/masrjb/Stre...etching_4.html

    And many other types. The key to making a tendon complex flexible is repetition and progression.
    "To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy."


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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Quote Originally Posted by Paris View Post
    Nope. I was able to do my first splits at about 32 y.o.
    So there is hope! I have never done one evar!

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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Thanks for the links, Marc! And for the adulthood success stories, everyone! I am the unstretchiest person--I can't touch my own toes, my hammies are tight, my sartorius is tight, my other things that I don't remember the names of are tight. I need a LOT of work. But it is one of my ongoing goals!

    I like watching TV on the floor and just doing some stretches while I'm laying there. It helps me remember to do it and forget I'm doing it, if that made sense.


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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Rodney Yee 'yoga flexibility for beginners' DVD. The best.

    I couldn't touch my toes. Within four months, I could do the splits. I hardly keep up with the yoga now (for shame...something I'm determined to get back into now), but I'm still way more flexible than I used to be...It gives me less back pain too, because the hamstrings are no longer so tight. That's the real miracle...it gives some lasting flexibilty. So anyway. Something to try.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mollyzmoon View Post
    Rodney Yee 'yoga flexibility for beginners' DVD. The best.

    I couldn't touch my toes. Within four months, I could do the splits.
    Wow. Where did you get that DVD? I want it.
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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    I would love to be able to do the splits, but I don't know if it's something the body can be trained to do. It hurts when I try.

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    Quote Originally Posted by kitty260 View Post
    Wow. Where did you get that DVD? I want it.
    Here's one option...

    For abs...

    For flexibility (not beginners)

    Many thanks, mzm! If you saw results that quickly, I feel hopeful and encouraged!


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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    A former cheerleader/current dancer taught me this technique; she referred to it as "popping your legs out". It takes time, (especially in order to do a split) but it definitely will improve your flexibility--the more you do it the quicker it happens. It's very simple. All you do is lay on the floor and scoot your butt up to the wall. With your legs against the wall, spread them apart as far as possible until you feel a little strain. Stay in this position for 5 minutes. Then relax for 5. Do this 3 or 4 times a night and you'll be a rubber band in no time. The longer you do it, increase the time accordingly (10-15mins). Basically, let gravity do the work for you.

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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Thank you! Sounds like a good exercise! I'm regretting our lack of wall space (every inch has furniture, windows or the fireplace) in our living room...of course it couldn't be THAT easy!


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    Quote Originally Posted by SundayMorning View Post
    Thank you! Sounds like a good exercise! I'm regretting our lack of wall space (every inch has furniture, windows or the fireplace) in our living room...of course it couldn't be THAT easy!
    I don't have any wall space either! I just did it against my dresser and fridge (which are, indeed, next to each other).

    It does hurt when you get up, but good hurt. Stretchy hurt.

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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    www.howtostretch.com

    helped me do the splits for the first time at 37...took a good 6 months of dynamic stretching (slight bounce action to the stretch)...but I finally did it!!

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    Default Re: becoming flexible

    Quote Originally Posted by AznExtasy View Post
    I would love to be able to do the splits, but I don't know if it's something the body can be trained to do. It hurts when I try.
    It's supposed to hurt. Not excruciating pain, just like a good workout kind of burn. I can't do the splits yet, but I just started a stretching routine so I'm looking forward to when I finally do it!
    "We all must suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons. In order to achieve what others don't, you have to do what others won't."


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