Who here can do the splits?

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.

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.

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

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

:-D

Jeni

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

yeah... Keep your hips square and stuff.

Straddle, you can put your feet on books then pancake

Contortionists scare me!

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Yup

SHe can prolly do the full pancake cause she is cheating

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!

lol not me