Getting Bendy

Scout Finch · Getting Bendy

Is anybody out there really flexible and bendy? I find that because of all my running, plus I have a desk job, that my legs, my entire body, I guess, are very tight and inflexible. I can do a few yoga postures, like downward dog, but only in modified positions because of my hamstring inflexibility.

When I get down on the floor and stretch, I can get my legs out to a V of about 120 degrees. I decided that a flexibility goal might be to try to do a horizontal splits. Maybe if I can work towards this, I will be motivated to continue stretching on a regular basis. Anybody here doing a splits and what advice do you have? Yup

WesleyT

i'm interested in getting more flexible too Happy

Scout Finch

Thanks for the "advice," Wesley! Laugh

Okay, rephrase: Anybody out there who has advice for Wesley and Scout?!? Yup

Max Thunder

http://members.tripod.com/~run4ever/sports/stretch_all_one.html

This is a very great reading if you're interested in stretching

There are also some Pavel Tsatsouline books, which are pretty expensive, but I heard from the friend of a friend that I might have downloaded them...

"Relax into Stretching".

I've never been able to stick to a stretching routine myself, the best time for it is after a weight training session but I'm usually too tired at that moment to go through the boredom of stretching. I've always been inflexible, but at least I've managed to maintain my level of inflexibility.

imsovain

I've never been a big stretcher. However, the only time I've ever felt that stretching made me perceptibly looser is when I do "active isolated stretching." The book that introduced me to it was "The Whartons' Stretch Book." There are too many silly little exercises in it (stretching your fingers for example), and some of the pictures and descriptions don't explain all that great, but I stretch in that manner every once in a while if I feel tight. You can probably do a google search on active isolated stretching and get the same info as the book.

ReddyMcMeaty

I'm not REALLY bendy, never have been but when I work on it my flexibility increases dramatically. I have to stretch every day, when my muscles are warm, and like dynamic stretching on top of static, also exerises that use both strength and flexibility like certain calisthenics. Right now I'm working on being able to do the splits within a year. Maybe two...I've never beena ble to do them even as a small child so hope that this is a doable goal.

Scout Finch

I'm with you, Meg. I have to do it - literally - every single day to see any noticeable benefit. I'm also working for a horizontal splits. Jesus, it's really hard to do when you are tight. I'm trying to do it correctly posture-wise right from the beginning, even if it means not getting as further out as I normally would.

There's a great pic on the web of Mariel Hemingway doing a horizontal in the nude. God, is she leggy.

So this is my new goal. Yeah, it'll probably take me a year to get there. And that's doing it every day.

WesleyT

isnt everyday too much? i was stretching every other day

Viking Dan

I was ridiculously flexible when I took Karate as a child. Deadlifts have given me a decent range of motion with my back. I can actually touch the floor without bending my knees now.

Scout Finch

I'm not sure why stretching would not be a good idea every day. Especially if you're really tight, like I am? I sit at a desk all day, plus I run six days a week, which is murder on your hamstring tightness. Now that I've been doing the floor stretches every night, I actually don't feel as tight after I've been sitting at my desk for long periods.

I've also noticed that pumping iron, like bench presses and overhead dumbbells, seem to help my back bendiness. Like I do have more range of motion since doing those exercises.

I wonder if it's possible to get a totally hard body at 47???? Yup

Viking Dan

A totally hard body is a matter of a ridiculously low bodyfat %. Most people have to get under (I think)8% to have a six pack.

Scout Finch

I have a four-pack. Working on six. Working on it. Yup

NikkiLC

my son (14) and daughter (16) both have 6pack's I sadly dont Cry

Scout Finch

adwred

I'm laughing because I don't think I'll ever be able to enter into this conversation. I'm just now starting to see my 'apron' disappear. I'm flabbergasted that that is even happening - I didn't think that loose skin could shrink up considering it was there, in spades, until just recently. Now, my stomach is almost completely flat when I'm standing and I only have bulges when I sit down or bend over. The idea of having any kind of 'pack', 6-pack or otherwise, is just so foreign to me. You never know!

Scout Finch

I read on some website that people with "extra skin" in areas of the body like the abs (??maybe the chicken cutlet area on the upper back as well??) still have some underlying subcu fat that can be worked off with extreme pumping iron and exercises. I don't know about that, but I'd be willing to bet that many, many folks really don't get down to a low-enough fat level that subcu fat decreases as much as they'd like.

Red, apron or no apron, you are beautiful! Yup

<<dons trench coat, sunglasses, and Raquel Welch wig (medium auburn) to prepare for stalking>>

adwred

I do believe that if the subcu fat is worked/burned off that the skin tightens up. I'm already seeing that in action, as I had this extra skin for a couple of years and thought it would never go away. I always thought, 'if only I could just cut it off, I'd be at a normal weight,' but actually, I had it backwards - I should have been saying 'If only I could lose the last bit of fat, this extra skin would go away!'.

And I laughed out loud at your 'stalking outfit', by the way. Laugh

adwred

Viking Dan

teknodamage

cygnus

After having the pleasure of working out with one of the top trainers in the world and his adverison to stretching,I'd thought I 'd throw m 2 cents in..

http://www.stayinshape.com/library/weightlifting/activestretch.html

ReddyMcMeaty

Stretching to maintain a degree of flexibility is totally different than stretching before you workout... I think everyone can benefit by maintaining a relative bendiness especially with today's lifestyle that includes so much sitting. I'd never advocate stretching way out before a power or speed workout, but if the flexibility isn't there it's all to easy to pull a groin or hamstring (done both) and so limiting with certain activities.

Scout Finch

ReddyMcMeaty

I have that website bookmarked I believe, it's got pics with a guy doing the splits on 2 chairs and a girl sitting on him, right?

I need to be bendy to do THIS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPDfas9ywMM

Man I have wanted one of those for YEARS.. and finally my husband has ordered one for my birthday (Sept. 26). Bring on the bendiness.
Coming across that website gave me GREAT hope that I could do fun things one day.

Scout Finch

Oh my God, that is amazing what she's doing! Wouldn't it be cool to be able to do that?

Yeah, it's the guy between two chairs (and the bulge between them!). Angling my pelvis "correctly" means I get much less stretch than if I use poor posturing. Cry

When I googled "horizontal splits" last week, a youtube link came up that has a chick doing handstands and horizontal splits - in the nude! It was hot, needless to say. Yup

teknodamage

wtf???

ReddyMcMeaty

wtf indeed. THat is impressive but a little gross, needs 20 lbs or so of meat on her body.

But yeah, I was blown away by that utube woman! Such a beautiful dance... and very bendy, not contortionist style which is fascinating but icky somehow ;)