What is the purpose of a MIDDLE SPLIT?

[sballetgrl]

What exactly is the purpose of a middle split?

[Mel Johnson]

Speaking as a classicist, not much. It is a good stretch for the hamstrings, though, as long as it's done with the legs fully rotated from the hips. A serious number of students don't do it that way!

[Guest SweetSorrow123]

It really is to stretch the hamstrings. if your not feling it enough though, try putting your elbows down, AND keep tour legs up. its a killer, but is a good stretch if your already warm after class.

[Guest skyadancer<3]

I can only think of 2 reasons:

to help side batemas(spelling?)

and side leaps

[Victoria Leigh]

Actually, when done correctly, it can help to stretch the rotation for à la seconde, and it is a general stretch for rotation. This stretch should only be done when warmed up. One of the best ways to do it is to lie on the floor with your derrière up against the wall, lift your legs straight up and then open them to the side, letting gravity pull them down. Stay there a while.

[Skye90]

Oh I hadn't heard of that one before! That's a goodie

[Laschwen]

[This stretch should only be done when warmed up. One of the best ways to do it is to lie on the floor with your derrière up against the wall, lift your legs straight up and then open them to the side, letting gravity pull them down. Stay there a while.

 

 

 

I have been doing that one at home a lot lately. It gets strange looks and laughs from the hubby if he walks in. I have not generally been very warmed up for it but have gone slowly, not forcing anything and have seen some progress. There shelves where I stretch and I can see how far my legs open in relation to them. I will be careful to do it when warm in the future.

 

Laschwen

[Belle of the ballet #1]

i love this stretch. it's one of my favoutite things to do after clas, especially if there is nothing on tv, because you can read a book at the same time. It's great because nothing is forcing your legs, they only go as far as they can. it's not the fastest way to get flexible, but it's the most fun!

laschwen, i know what you mean about the funny looks, my parents always laugh at me, and it is sometimes embarassing when my brother comes in with a group of friends, it gives them a few laughs.

Edited November 5, 2005 by Belle of the ballet #1

[janninepointe]

I also do it up against the wall but n a different way. You can put your feet against the wall then while holding onto the barre slide down into the mens splits. If I'm wrong isn't the middle splits mostly for men when doing something like a straddle jump(dont know what that would be clled in french)? In pats of Germany its called maennerspagat (mens splits).

[Victoria Leigh]

No, it's not only for men, janine. It's a good stretch for everyone. But, I really don't like the one holding the barre and going down, as I think it's too hard to maintain the rotation in that one. Sitting on the floor with the feet against the wall in an open second, and then pushing yourself in from behind would be better. You control the rotation better with that one. And, of course the one lying down also totally rotates the legs.

[sballetgrl]

Is it also good for turn-out or it doesn't matter?

[Mel Johnson]

IF you turn out your legs while you do it, it is.

[sballetgrl]

thanks, all!

[Belle of the ballet #1]

with the whole turnout thing in straddle, where should your knees face (how much rotation) because when i rotate my legs they face slightly behind, not up to the roof like everyone elses. It also seems that i can't get my straddle as wide as theirs. I've tried using less rotation in this stretch but it feels kind of awkward

should i change the way i do this stretch to makeit more benaficial, or would this just be because of a difference in body structure (also, although the other girls don't rotate their legs as much, they have better turnout than me and can stretch further.)

Any reasoning for this would be great.

[Mel Johnson]

Slightly behind? Great, as long as your pelvis isn't tipped forward (that is, tucked under)!