Flexibility

[Guest futuredancer]

This past year, I have been working very hard to strengthen my foundation in dance and the overall "toning" of my body, that I seem to have not paid as much attention to gaining flexibility as I should have . I have pretty flexible sides and upper body, but tighter rotators and hamstrings. Does anyone have any exercises that would help me, because no matter how much I stretch, it doesn't seem to be working. Thanks!

[Mel Johnson]

Flexibility is not something that develops overnight, or even over a year, from your point of view. Flexibility and strength have to be developed side by side, incrementally, over a long period of time. Ballet class in general builds both in a safe and orderly manner. But, there are no short cuts. Supplemental stretching like splits and other exercises will help with the flexibility, but often not do much about strength to put the whatever where you want it once you've got it to bend that way! Run a search on "stretch". You may very easily get a couple THOUSAND posts and threads! People ask these a lot!

[Missy_Ballet_Attitude]

One good stretch that I always use to help with the flexibility of the thighs is to lie on your back with your legs out in a V as far as you can go. Hold that position for a while, and gravity stretches your muscles(if you can not hold your legs up, try to do this stretch against a wall). This will also help a lot if you are trying to do the splits.Hope this helped some!

 

* Lisa *

[kellyisthebestintheworld]

Flexibility is not something that develops overnight, or even over a year, from your point of view.  Flexibility and strength have to be developed side by side, incrementally, over a long period of time.  Ballet class in general builds both in a safe and orderly manner.  But, there are no short cuts.  Supplemental stretching like splits and other exercises will help with the flexibility, but often not do much about strength to put the whatever where you want it once you've got it to bend that way!  Run a search on "stretch".  You may very easily get a couple THOUSAND posts and threads!  People ask these a lot!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I never thought of that one! I can't do the splits that way but I can do it the other way and I was doing stretches, but they weren't working and that one sounds like it will work! Thanks!