Help with Poor Flexibility (& Back bends!)

peachfigs

Does anyone have any advice on how to improve very poor flexibility? I do pilates and yoga but I find it difficult to do a lot of the poses, so I don't feel like I benefit fully from the workout. I can't even touch my toes or cross my legs. Any exercise that involves putting weight on my wrists (like push-ups) are quite painful too.

Also, I've been trying to do back bends and can barely lift myself up off the floor. Is that due to a lack of upper body strength or is it weak wrists?

Sorry if this was such a vague question! But any advice would be nice. :flowerforyou:

peachfigs

Anyone? :brokenheart:

fight_for_fit

Mobility exercises!
I could not reach my toes before, but now I can place my palms on the ground.
You tube some mobility exercises they are amazing!

ellaloveslove

Mobility exercises!
I could not reach my toes before, but now I can place my palms on the ground.
You tube some mobility exercises they are amazing!

Cool, I'm going to check these out too!

jc1961AA

keep practising, you will get better. I am very unflexible (is that a word??), but since I have been doing Insanity and doing the stretches I am getting better
JC

khall86790

From my experience, it came with practice. I used to be extremely inflexible but I focused my work outs on yoga for about 2 months and then when I moved on to running, I decided to do 5-10 minutes of yoga before bed to test my flexibility.

Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown is quite good for working on your flexibility as she mixes yoga with aerobics so you get a better workout but it also flows through all the moves twice so after you've mastered it, you can work on how deep you can stretch into it. She also gets you to do repetition moves in those poses which boosts flexibility.

Rarity2013

Yoga is extremely progressive. Everyone is inflexible when they first start out- the important thing is to be patient, focus on correct breathing and technique, and eventually, everything will loosen.

It's important to remember with yoga that no matter how far away you are from the advanced position, you are always reaping benefit at every stage.

Make sure the room you practice in is a good temperature, not too cold, and if you feel stiff, take a shower afterwards like you would after other exercise.

Mimoki

Shouldn't do push up's on your palms because they are bad for the wrist for everyone. Its suggested to do them on push up stands but if you don't have those to do them on your knuckles with a cloth under them, this will get WAY less tension to the wrist.