Stretching those evil tendons

[Kuriin]

Okay, something's obviously screwed up. Like my teacher says, "Well, we're not symmetrical," which is so true in my case.

My right leg is much stronger, or so it seems to be. It can't go as high as my left. Whereas my left leg is much easier to turn on, can go above the 100 degree mark and over the 150 with a jambe ala main exercise, but it's weaker. Not to mention, the turn-out is awful on my left compared to my right. I can flag/wing my right foot, but I can't with my left.

When I do nonstop releves or anything that involves me going up while my right foot is my supporting leg, it hurts like heck when I'm done with the exercise because my achilles heel is tight as hell.

What I'm wondering is, how do I stretch my achilles heel and hamstrings? I elevate my toes so that my heel is going downward, stretching that. I do the 'lunge' stretch where my back leg is also bent to stretch that. But, nothing is working.

Does anyone know any other exercises that I can try? It's getting really aggravating, lol. :shock:

[Yliander]

I would suggest trying some pilates or yoga - proberbly more pilates because pilates will not only help with the stretch you are looking for but will also help balance out the uneveness in your body.

Would also suggest seeing a physio or OT who specialised in dance - and get some advice specific for your body as to exercises and stretches - as this will mean you are actually stretching the right muscles etc.

Good luck with it all.

[Kuriin]

I would suggest trying some pilates or yoga - proberbly more pilates because pilates will not only help with the stretch you are looking for but will also help balance out the uneveness in your body.

Would also suggest seeing a physio or OT who specialised in dance - and get some advice specific for your body as to exercises and stretches - as this will mean you are actually stretching the right muscles etc.

Good luck with it all.

Ahh, a physical therapist specialized in dance. 8) What's sad is, I'm also majoring in that, and I didn't even think of it. Ha! Irony. Thank you for the advice; I'd love to take pilates anyhow. :)

[Sagitta]

Yes...I know there are some df members, such as BodiesByBija, who do that, so there definitely are such people out there...

[Laura]

I definitely think Pilates is a good thing to try. When you shop around for a Pilates teacher, look for one who is (or was) also a dancer. Find out what their dance background is, why they got into Pilates, what their general Philosophy is (it does differ from teacher to teacher), and how long they've been teaching for. In general, people who have been teaching Pilates since about 1998 or before are better trained than those who have started more recently. Why? Because it used to be that the training program was a year long, and nowadays Pilates is in such demand that you can get a teacher who has only been through a much shorter certification program (as short as six weeks).

[macha]

Find a bottom step with railings to grip on either side, and place the balls of your feet just like you would in stirrup irons, then put your weight in your heels. Don't force them, but gravity will eventually take your heels lower (grippy soles like tennies might help). Only do this for about ten seconds or so at a time, bringing them back up in intervals.

Or Romper Stompers. :D

[mamboqueen]

Two hamstring exercises I do:

Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. slightly bend your knees. Bend over, hinging at the hips; reach forward with your arms and push backwards, as if trying to get your rear-end far away from you. You should feel a good stretch up the hamstring.

Second....involves some weights. I use a body bar that weighs around 15-20 lbs., but you can use regular weights as well. Again, I bend over, hinging at the hips. I lower the bar down to the floor, slowly in counts of 4, and back up. You will definitely feel this the next day.

The only one I can think that might work for the achilles, is the typical after-workout stretch, where you bend one leg, keep the leg you're going to stretch straight. Bend a little at the hips, put your hands on the bent-leg thigh, dig your straight-legged heel into the floor and push back into your butt.

Lastly, I'm not sure if you're male or female, but if you're female, wear heels less; it shortens your muscles and tendons.