Flexibility question...

notreallychris

This is an honest question:
I have always wanted to be able to touch my toes w/ straight legs. Sometimes when stretching I feel like I'm getting closer, but other times, I'm a mile away. Can a person change their flexibility to where they are able to do this?

jwdieter

Sure, if there aren't mechanical limitations like a large belly in the way. Or extraordinarily short arms. Given the photo, it shouldn't be much work.

koshkasmum

Yes. Keep at it. Stretch gently over several seconds or even minutes - and remember to keep breathing. Better yet, take a yoga class. Over time your muscles will release and stretch and you will become more flexible. BTW, if you are carrying any belly fat (doesn't appear so in your photo) it can literally get in the way of you achieving this goal easily.

thesupremeforce

Just keep working on it. I was never even close to being flexible, but in less than a year, I can stand straight legged and put my knuckles on the floor.

bridgie101

This is an honest question:
I have always wanted to be able to touch my toes w/ straight legs. Sometimes when stretching I feel like I'm getting closer, but other times, I'm a mile away. Can a person change their flexibility to where they are able to do this?

Absolutely!

any stretch you hold longer than 30 seconds will have a lasting effect on your limberness. Stretch everything you can think of once a day, maybe after coming home from a walk while all your muscles are warm, and don't push yourself further than you feel comfortable with. If you feel a stretch something is happening so don't bust a gut.

Hold each stretch for at least the count of 30 before letting go. there are other things you can do with stretching but I think that's a solid place to start.

notreallychris

Just keep working on it. I was never even close to being flexible, but in less than a year, I can stand straight legged and put my knuckles on the floor.

What stretches did you do, if you don't mind my asking.
Thanks for all the responses!

summer8it

You can absolutely do this! You'll find that you're more naturally flexible later in the day -- everyone is the most inflexible right after getting up in the morning. Try doing some stretching every evening, and I bet you'll make progress quickly.

bridgie101

I should warn you: don't stretch your hamstrings by just bending over - you can overloosen your back and leave the legs tight, and that'll give you horrible back problems.

Lie on your back if you like, and then lift your legs up, one at a time. Try to make sure when you stretch that your stomach muscles are supporting your back. and when I said a 30 second stretch has a lasting result? what I probably should say is that anything under 30 seconds and you may as well not have done it. You'll be back where you started the next day. If you want results, hold stretches for more than 30 secs.

notreallychris

I should warn you: don't stretch your hamstrings by just bending over - you can overloosen your back and leave the legs tight, and that'll give you horrible back problems.

Lie on your back if you like, and then lift your legs up, one at a time. Try to make sure when you stretch that your stomach muscles are supporting your back. and when I said a 30 second stretch has a lasting result? what I probably should say is that anything under 30 seconds and you may as well not have done it. You'll be back where you started the next day. If you want results, hold stretches for more than 30 secs.

Noted, thanks!

thesupremeforce

Just keep working on it. I was never even close to being flexible, but in less than a year, I can stand straight legged and put my knuckles on the floor.

What stretches did you do, if you don't mind my asking.
Thanks for all the responses!

I do DDP Yoga, but the specific stretches in question are mostly basic things. Yoga's great for flexibility, in general. I spend a lot of time holding stretches of the bend forward and hold, cobra, dead bug, etc varieties. Don't skimp on lower back stretches, as they're as important as leg stretches.

For what it's worth, I don't think holding stretches for more than 30 seconds is necessary, but your mileage may vary.

notreallychris

Just keep working on it. I was never even close to being flexible, but in less than a year, I can stand straight legged and put my knuckles on the floor.

What stretches did you do, if you don't mind my asking.
Thanks for all the responses!

I do DDP Yoga, but the specific stretches in question are mostly basic things. Yoga's great for flexibility, in general. I spend a lot of time holding stretches of the bend forward and hold, cobra, dead bug, etc varieties. Don't skimp on lower back stretches, as they're as important as leg stretches.

For what it's worth, I don't think holding stretches for more than 30 seconds is necessary, but your mileage may vary.

I was afraid yoga might be mentioned again. Looks like I need to incorporate it back into my routine somewhere. Thanks again!

cafeaulait7

Oh, yes, you can do it (unless your body mechanics don't allow it)! I'm back to full splits and backbends after being shockingly unstretchy for me

Get warm before you stretch (but not too warm like hot yoga). Take a warm shower or better, do a bit of cardio.

Stretch until you feel it -- and it can be slightly uncomfortable for sure! Don't push past that. Hold the stretch and try to relax the muscle. You can pulse it if you like (one theory has that as better). Repeat several times if you like that session, or not if you hold it about a minute to 2 minutes (like a lot of forms of yoga). If you do that every other day or so, you'll just get better and better at the same stretch, whatever it is.

Body mechanics can get in the way, so some people really can't stretch their hamstrings that much. That's OK. You find your own best stretch of a muscle, over time. You'll definitely see improvement I love yoga! Stretching is addictive, lol.

diadia1

Get warm before you stretch (but not too warm like hot yoga). Take a warm shower or better, do a bit of cardio.

Stretch until you feel it -- and it can be slightly uncomfortable for sure! Don't push past that. Hold the stretch and try to relax the muscle. You can pulse it if you like (one theory has that as better). Repeat several times if you like that session, or not if you hold it about a minute to 2 minutes (like a lot of forms of yoga). If you do that every other day or so, you'll just get better and better at the same stretch, whatever it is.

Body mechanics can get in the way, so some people really can't stretch their hamstrings that much. That's OK. You find your own best stretch of a muscle, over time. You'll definitely see improvement I love yoga! Stretching is addictive, lol.

this.
for me yoga and stretching are both much addictive and feels relaxed doing it after running.