how can i make my body flexible?

Question

I like dancing but my body is quite stiff. is there any exercise that make my body (all parts!) more flexible?

Answer 1

I think yoga and pilates is good for that.

Answer 2

All types of stretching exercises will help you with body flexibility.

Try touching your toes, going slowly down, without forcing, several times everyday. Do the same sideways (left and right).
In bed, on your belly, bend backwards lifting both legs and arms (while they are stretched in front of you), without forcing too much and doing it slowly, several times.
Doing 10 min of that everyday will give you all flexibility you need for dancing and to enjoy a healthier body.

Yoga is good too, but you also will have to practice it everyday.
Pilates is excellent, again the same comment, do a little bit everyday.
Matial arts will do the trick for you as well, a couple of times a week.

Answer 3

Stretch each morning and evening, and also before and after dance class (if you take them). Here are some stretches that I find useful:

Sit on the floor, stretch your legs out in front of you, and try to touch your toes. Maybe try at first only one leg at a time.

From there, spread your legs as far apart as you can. This itself is a good stretch, but also try streching your arms and body forward; your arms and body to each side with your body facing down; and your arms and body to each side with your body facing forwards.

After these, stand up and do some leg swings. To do this, find something like a chair and stand behind it, holding on to the back with one hand with the chair on one side. swing the leg that is furthest away from the chair forwards and back, keeping the knee straight. Gradually swing your leg higher and higher. Aslo try kicking your leg out to the side. Turn around and swap legs.

These are just a couple of the main stretches that I like to do. The key is to keep doing them each day, and after a week or a couple of weeks you will notice a difference - keep at them! If you feel tight and sore a day after your first stretches, stretching again will actually help that, so don't stop if you are a bit sore (in pain, though, is a different matter!). There are many more stretches apart from these that you can do, but these are my favourites for limbering up.

Safety tips: never 'bounce' when you stretch - just hold the stretch in one position for 10 seconds, then relax. Then stretch again for 10 seconds, but try and holding it a little further than last time. Bouncing quickly on a stretch can tear the muscles. Never get anone to push or pull your body into a stretch, because they cannot feel your body's limits, and again you could tear a muscle. Stretches in general are most effective when your body is already slightly warmed up, so maybe go on a quick walk, or just do a bit of easy dancing before you stretch. Also stretch to warm down after hard exercise.

Answer 4

RE:
how can i make my body flexible?
I like dancing but my body is quite stiff. is there any exercise that make my body (all parts!) more flexible?

Answer 5

Yoga and pilates are good forms of stretching and exercise. Most classes are expensive, DVDs are cheaper and can be done at home, most cable networks have free shows on but who wants to be up that early, record and watch at leisure.

Answer 6

Pilates

Answer 7

my girlfriend now fiancee is 49 and does yoga. She is so flexible it realy spices up our love life and keeps her looking and feeling great

Answer 8

There are these little hammers. They are made of rubber balls on the end of little sticks. They look like the strikers used for a xylophone. Anyway Have some of your friends hit you with those little hammers and tenderize you. The hammers are made for massages so they wont hurt you. It will be fun so go for it.

Answer 9

You could try breaking some of your bones? Other than that try Yoga or Pilates.

Answer 10

You should stretch everyday. a littlebit further each time. Don't go to far because you will end you hurting yourself and have to stop.