how do i improve my flexability?

Question

i can lift my legs high front ways but cant lift them side ways any ideas?

Answer 1

If you're a guy, you'll have more trouble than a gal because your hip joints are set into your sockets differently. Try yoga.

Answer 2

Yes-you largely use different muscle groups for those two motions. The hamstring muscle group is what you use for the front and for everyday type things like stepping up, walking, running, etc. because you use those muscles all the time they tend to be more developed and more flexible and retain their flexibility.

The second muscle group-the groin group is not used as much and so that group tends to lose its flexibility very quickly in early adolescents and is usually a lot weaker. To develop that group start doing things like the butterfly to warm that muscle group up and then do slow static stretching type exercises like pressing your legs down by grabbing your ankles while your feet bottoms are together using your elbows to push the sides of your knees down for 10-15 seconds. Also in your side splits start using the seat of a chair by placing your hands or arms on it to help take some of the weight and tension off of your legs so that you can relax and stretch them more efficiently. You can also slide your feet a little easier on the floor if you have them on a couple of pieces of cardboard-but be careful and use the chair. In my studio beginners use chairs when first starting out and eventually use chairs and card board, and then just their hands and no card board and then just their hands and card board. That way their flexibility is built gradully and without pain. You should start to see some results in three to four weeks. If you feel sharp pain in your strecthing thats your body telling you that you are over strecthing and that is counter productive. It causes excess muscle fiber tearing and build up of soarness and scar tissue and can actually make you less flexible. Also do some hip and lower back exercises as both these groups interact with the lower back and hip area and that will also improve your flexibility both for the front as well as the sides.

Answer 3

Stretching after a light warmup, to get the muscles warm, is a good start...and then stretch again post workout. When the muscles are warm its easier to stretch them. Think of a rubberband...cold rubberbands are harder to stretch than one that is warm.

Yoga is another great way of gaining flexability.

Answer 4

Try yoga. You will become flexible in time.

Answer 5

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