How can I become more flexible? Help!!

[Guest Corsett_Ballet]

I just recently took up ballet and it seems that since I run, my muscles are constantly tight. Does anyone have any suggestions that can help me get more flexible? I need all the help I can get. Any special stretches?

Thank you

Edited April 21, 2005 by Corsett_Ballet

[Daniil]

Sorry, but since I don't know which muscles you want to be more flexible, there is only one answer: regular stretchings.

[Mel Johnson]

I'm going to assume something here, although maybe I shouldn't. Dancers for dancers is intended for dancers to think and talk about other dancers, like "What did you think of Marie Taglioni, Major Mel? You're old enough to remember her."

 

I'm going to switch this over to one of our Young Dancer forums, but Daniil has led off correctly with his advice. Regular, gradual stretching done slowly is the best way to loosen up tight muscles. If this is the wrong age group for you, let us know and we'll fix it.

[Victoria Leigh]

I would also suggest that, if you are serious about improving your flexibility and your ballet technique, then lose the running.

 

Welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers!

[Guest Corsett_Ballet]

Thanx for ya'lls input.

[Guest balletluver13]

I thought running was a good way to strenthen the muscles you use for ballet. Isn't it? I don't do track or any serious running but I like to jog in the mornings. Isn't that helpful?

[Victoria Leigh]

Nope. Put your energy into dance, and possibly some additional work in Pilates. Running is not good, and jogging is high impact. The bones and joints of a dancer don't need that, they get enough in a ballet class.

[Guest balletluver13]

Oh O.K. I'll stop then. I've been looking into pilaties for a while now maybe i'll start soon.

[tinydancerkw]

If you want your middle split to become more flexible, my friend has a trick. Go into a Wal-Mart and buy the inner tube of a bike tire (27 in.). You take the inner tube and put it behind your back and hook each end, or loop to your feet so that each foot has one loop on it. Put the inner tube on your foot so that it is right under your instep. It might be hard to get your legs to go straight up, so you can open your legs one at a time so you don't pull something. You can do this stretch lying on your back or stomach. The inner tube helped me so much with my imddle split and I hope that it also helps you. Also, pilates may help you, but from my experience from pilates, it is more strengthening than stretching.

[Victoria Leigh]

Pilates works on both stretching and strengthening. Depends on what is needed and what your focus is. But, that is why you need individual instruction, on the equipment and the mat classes.

[Guest lightupthestage7]

I thought running was a good way to strenthen the muscles you use for ballet. Isn't it? I don't do track or any serious running but I like to jog in the mornings. Isn't that helpful?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I used to be in track, too, and I really loved it. I noticed when I was doing it that my calf muscles hurt a lot, and I noticed it even more in dance class. My teacher told me the reason for this was that dance stretches out your calf and leg muscles and makes them long and flexible, while running and track make them bulky. So no more track for me! Also, as previously said, if you are serious about dance, you'll need to quit running.

 

 

--Di

[dance_through_life]

As someone who previously struggled with flexibility, I have to agree that daily stretching is what you need to become flexible. Make sure you are relatively warm first though, because you could injure yourself. I thought I couldn't do it for a while because I was convinced that you had to be naturally flexible in order to really get a full split, but I now have my splits, so don't give up hope!

[Guest Griskogrl92]

Post edited out by moderator.

[Victoria Leigh]

Hello Griskogrl92, welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers.

 

I'm sorry to do this to your first post, but I had to take it out. It was just not legible. First, please do not write in all caps. That is the equivalent of screaming on the computer. Second, we write in English here on Ballet Talk. We do not use teenspeak, computereese, slang, numbers for letters, or anything else that would not be understood by ALL of our members, many of whom are in countries where they do not speak English as a first language. I could not make sense of your post, so there is no way someone overseas would.

 

Third, advice on the Young Dancers forums is given by the moderators, who are professional teachers. We do not allow young teens to tell others how to do things. You may relate things like what has helped you, but be very careful about telling someone else how to do something which could be dangerous for them.

 

Please try your post again, and make some changes!

[Guest lowedancestudioroxmysox5]

I used to be the least flexible person ever! I started taking ballet because of that. All you do is stretch when you find random times like, you dropped something on the ground bend over without bending your knees to pick it up, or lay in bed in a frog...

-Jenna