Who here can do the splits?

[Boynextdoor]

Has anyone started a thread like that?...

[lynn]

i think there's a similar thread under ballroom.....

[Boynextdoor]

Well let's start it here!

I can! Who else? Come on folks! I get paid by how many people respond!

[chachachacat]

I could do them thirty years ago!

[lynn]

duplicated thread - there's a similar thread started under General Discussion

[Boynextdoor]

She was looking for help, though... Please, Lynn? Can't we keep this one? Please?

[lynn]

oh, sorry, i didn't mean to delete this one, i just thought it would be nice if we keep the information under the same thread - easier for future reference.

P.S. I think you'd get more response if this thread is moved under General Discussion. Usually threads under DA is unrelated to dancing.

[Boynextdoor]

I didn't think it was related to dancing...

How do you move it?

[lynn]

not to worry, the moderators will move it.

[Boynextdoor]

Okay, thanks!

[diputs]

Not me. For a long time I could not even touch my toes. (with my legs straight)

[la morena]

But you can now? How did you learn?

[diputs]

I can now.

Stretching three days a week with a partner assisting. And it took me two years.

I think that flexibility is either completely natural or comes out of necessity. Mine was out of necessity.

Supposedly, can anyone confirm this, that women are naturally more flexible than men because of estrogen. Apparently because a woman's body needs to stretch for child birth, they were given the natural ability to be more flexible.

I should try to look this up.

[diputs]

Apparently it is just hip flexibility.

Question: Is it true that females are generally more flexible than males?

Answer: It is true only if comparing, for example, hip flexibility of the sexes in the general population, but it is not true for particular individuals and not necessarily true for other joints. Don't you know men who are more flexible (in all major joints) than many women?

Females all over the world tend to have a greater range of motion in the hip joint and in the elbow (Alter 1996). But results of studies of differences in flexibility done in different countries may vary for other joints. For example, a study done in the U.S.A. by R. E. Koslow (1987) shows that 17- and 21-year-old women have greater range of motion than 17- and 21-year-old men in the shoulder, while a study done in Italy by F. Repice et al. (1982) shows the opposite. (Full references are in the fourth edition of my book Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training.)

From observation of gymnasts—athletes who are both selected for flexibility and work a lot on flexibility—you can see that women gymnasts tend to be more flexible than men of the same skill level. It has to do with differences in the bone structure and perhaps with women gymnasts having more compliant ligaments and usually less muscle mass around all joints than men gymnasts.

http://www.stadion.com/column_stretch31.html

[mamboqueen]

I used to be incredibly flexible...and I'm hoping to gain some of it back. I was reading up on the internet last night and came across this guy's website (Kurtz). Great stuff. I did look at a couple of places that reviewed his books and dvds and wasn't thrilled enough to want to order either of them. The problem is that his website has great breakdowns on the types of flexibilities there are and what type of exercises to do accordingly, but to spare myself any injury, I'd prefer to see them done rather than read my way into doing them. I'm too old to be doing things incorrectly.

[Medira]

I can oversplit and pull my way through a full middle split too. I still have good hip flexibility, but nowhere near as good as it used to be.

Like you, MQ, I'm working hard to regain as much of my flexibility as I can.

[tj]

Does banana count?

[Sabor]

i split my hair down the middle yesterday.. had to warm up some considerable time.. but overall it was easy

[Swingolder]

I could do them thirty years ago!
I could do them fifty years ago! And cartwheels and back bends and all that stuff that sounds really painful now.

[mamboqueen]

I can still pull off a front handspring, cartwheels and roundoffs; nothing backwards, tho.

[diputs]

I can still pull off a front handspring, cartwheels and roundoffs; nothing backwards, tho.

I ran into my previous gymnastics teacher at a practice party earlier this week.

I cannot imagine trying to do the gymnastics stuff anymore. Although I have been known to do a handstand or two. I miss doing things that take my body upside down.

[mamboqueen]

When I'm upside down, my fillings hurt! So, I don't do gymnastics much anymore either (although I usually can't help myself if I see a balance beam). I can't jump on a trampoline anymore either...anyone who has delivered children will understand why *LOL*

[dancersdreamland]

Once upon a time... Actually it's something I'm trying to be able to do again. I'd like to be able to do them with my legs straight to the side, right leg to front, left leg to front, and while standing (like Melody did on So You Think You Can Dance).

I have some major stretching work ahead of me, but we'll see what happens. Also hoping to be able to gain the flexibility for heel stretches and scorpions.

[Medira]

I can still pull off a front handspring, cartwheels and roundoffs; nothing backwards, tho.
I used to be able to do all of that too...until I hyperextended my elbows. When I couldn't do gymnastics any more, I took up diving. (springboard and platform)

[Twilight_Elena]

Wanna do splits! I hope I'm not too old...

Twilight Elena

[Medira]

Wanna do splits! I hope I'm not too old...

Twilight Elena
Not at all.

[Shooshoo]

i split my hair down the middle yesterday.. had to warm up some considerable time.. but overall it was easy

:p

[Shooshoo]

Supposedly, can anyone confirm this, that women are naturally more flexible than men because of estrogen.

Not the case for me...I'm very stiff.

My felxibility has improved alot, like for backbends, leg stretches (when touching the floor). But like the sitting in the lotus position, impossible, and it does not get better. But I heard that one needs to stretch like every day. Maybe then I'll be able to do the spilts.

[Katarzyna]

I am not very flexible, decent. My partner is amasing though. He can do anything to his body, any sort of split, rotation etc... Haven't seen a guy that flexible outside of contortionist performances...

[gracie]

Wanna do splits! I hope I'm not too old...

Twilight Elena 18 could never be too old--Happy Birthday!:rolleyes: ;) :rolleyes:

[gracie]

I can now.

Stretching three days a week with a partner assisting. And it took me two years.

I think that flexibility is either completely natural or comes out of necessity. Mine was out of necessity.

Supposedly, can anyone confirm this, that women are naturally more flexible than men because of estrogen. Apparently because a woman's body needs to stretch for child birth, they were given the natural ability to be more flexible.

I should try to look this up. Progesterone not estrogen- you were close!:raisebro:

[gracie]

Once upon a time... Actually it's something I'm trying to be able to do again. I'd like to be able to do them with my legs straight to the side, right leg to front, left leg to front, and while standing (like Melody did on So You Think You Can Dance).

I have some major stretching work ahead of me, but we'll see what happens. Also hoping to be able to gain the flexibility for heel stretches and scorpions. Oh yes, the old days of being able to do a split and think nothing of it! I ordered my ballet bar and in the catalogue was this stretching device that you can use by yourself. I'm thinking of getting it. I also have some major work ahead. I know WEE CAAN DOO ITTT!:uplaugh:

[diputs]

Progesterone not estrogen- you were close!:raisebro:

I knew it wasn't testosterone! :)

[Rosa]

Never done the splits, or even tried to. I took up dance far too late for that.

However, I can touch my toes. And bend even further, so that my elbows are half-way to the floor...

Thank you, Jane Fonda! :cool: :D

Rosa ;)

[fascination]

I can ..but only right leg forward...dont know why

[Twilight_Elena]

I think it's the same as in one foot always being a little bigger than the other. One leg could be a bit more flexible than the other.

Twilight Elena

[chandra]

I can!

All 3 ways~!

[Sabor]

i like chandra.. have no idea why

[chandra]

YOu know what? I dont know how to do emoticons on this new stuff yet!!! HELP!!!


Sabor:
_^ Wait till you see my oversplits ;)

[Sabor]

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/Fool/ser.gif

[alemana]

i had been getting quite close to really nailing a split until about 6 weeks ago when a back problem started messing with my workouts. time to get back on the wagon.

[jenibelle]

Grrr...I want to say yes but...why is that last inch so hard????

[chandra]

Grrr...I want to say yes but...why is that last inch so hard????

Try stretching over splits, sometimes I find that when people stretch just splits, there are some things that... OK, Im having issues describing... Just try stretching oversplits first, especcially straddle (middle) splits. See what happens, cant hurt.

[diputs]

See what happens, cant hurt.

Hurts like mad to me! OK, it's not bad pain, but it hurts.

[jenibelle]

Sounds like fun.....*grins wickedly*
Now can you tell me how to stretch oversplits? (Both front and side)

:-D

Jeni

[diputs]

Now can you tell me how to stretch oversplits? (Both front and side)
Jeni

Just put one leg up on something. Like a foam roller. or a chair


http://www.flexigirls.de/free/video-online/index28/m96-04.jpg

[chandra]

yeah... Keep your hips square and stuff.

Straddle, you can put your feet on books then pancake

[diputs]

Contortionists scare me!

http://www.flexigirls.de/free/video-online/index27/m06-05.jpg

[jenibelle]

Ouch! I better warm up reeeeeally well before that one.
How about the other way (middle splits) ? Same thing?
Jeni

[diputs]

Yep, just do one foot raised, then switch sides. Until you can do both.

[chandra]

middle= pancake with your feet on books
A pancake is touching your stomach to the ground in center splits...

[tanya_the_dancer]

A question: has anyone learned how to do splits as an adult? I used to be able to do them when I was a kid, but now the best I an manage is 135degrees on sideways splits, and forward splits are not working at all.

[jenibelle]

Sorry for all these questions; when you do the straddle splits, the knees are supposed to face directly towards the ceiling, right? That's what I thought but I saw my friend stretching and her knees were a bit off, but she was able to do the full pancake, and my pancake isn't quite there yet...
Jeni

[jenibelle]

BTW, I've seen people learn splits as an adult; it takes a bit longer than when you're really young but it's definitely possible.
Jeni

[Boynextdoor]

I can ALMOST one of those pancake things... My legs are not straight out, more of a v shape, but I am getting there!

[chandra]

Sorry for all these questions; when you do the straddle splits, the knees are supposed to face directly towards the ceiling, right? That's what I thought but I saw my friend stretching and her knees were a bit off, but she was able to do the full pancake, and my pancake isn't quite there yet...
Jeni
Yup

SHe can prolly do the full pancake cause she is cheating ;)

[wyllo]

A question: has anyone learned how to do splits as an adult? I used to be able to do them when I was a kid, but now the best I an manage is 135degrees on sideways splits, and forward splits are not working at all.

Yep, I stretched my way to the splits a couple of years ago when I was 25. It was relatively painless -- daily stretching for 6 months or so. Oddly enough, I find that I am more flexible now than when I was a child. I couldn't even touch my toes until college! I have a hunch it has to do with a lack of strength since my increased flexibility coincides with dancing/pilates. Just remember that stretching is sometimes uncomfortable, but should never be painful!

[ki2AY]

lol not me