Help me be more flexible!

kiwifly · 03-02-2009, 09:41 PM

So one of my new years resolutions this year is to be more flexible. At only the age of 23, I think I am the most inflexible woman in this world! I'm talking not even being able to kick up very high, and my knees never are able to fully straighten out. I've been like this since I was little though, and now it's taking its toll - I've had tons of back injuries, a weak core, etc. Does anyone know of any exercises that help someone become more flexible? Does yoga/pilates help at all?

**BellaDonna** · 03-02-2009, 09:50 PM

Yoga definitely helps with flexibility. If you keep at it and push yourself a little further each time in the poses, you will be surprised how flexible you will become. It is also good at strengthening your muscles.

Once you start stretching, you should try to keep up with it each day, to maintain the flexibility, even if it is for 5 minutes a day. I usually stretch before bed.

Pilates is great for your core. When I've done it, it didn't really feel like I was becoming more flexible- but I did have better balance and a tighter core.

**BellaDonna** · 03-02-2009, 09:54 PM

*Also, if you purchase an exercise ball, some of them come with DVD's or charts which show various stretches you can do. That is another good way to become more flexible- and it might be easier for you to start that way so that if you need help, you can use the ball to lean on.

kiwifly · 03-05-2009, 10:06 PM

Thanks for your suggestion!

I did try to go to a Yoga class a year ago. I'm so stiff though that I found even the easiest positions to be challenging. Many times our instructor would come up to me and push my back/legs to resemble what she wanted and I'd have to tell her to stop right away because the pressure was causing pain at that point. I think I'll try again though and work at my own pace. The exercise ball sounds like a good suggestion to help keep me in the poses!

Lately I've been doing my own stretches while watching tv. Reaching for my toes while sitting/standing, those sorts of things. Are there any specific moves that I should include that have helped others before?

-Ophelia- · 03-06-2009, 03:11 PM

If you want to work on your own pace, maybe purchasing a Yoga DVD is what you need. I started doing yoga in the comfort of my own home and it was great. I recommend Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss, a 45 minute full body workout, it's excellent! Or you can try any other Susan Deason Yoga DVD that are a lot shorter than this one. It has all the good moves.. Good luck!

**BellaDonna** · 03-06-2009, 03:16 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

That's a good one too- you can choose from 3 levels- if you pick "beginner" the poses are not as intense.

kiwifly · 03-08-2009, 09:21 AM

Alright I'm definitely trying yoga dvds then. Thanks for your help!

03-02-2009, 09:41 PM	#1
kiwifly Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 262	Help me be more flexible! So one of my new years resolutions this year is to be more flexible. At only the age of 23, I think I am the most inflexible woman in this world! I'm talking not even being able to kick up very high, and my knees never are able to fully straighten out. I've been like this since I was little though, and now it's taking its toll - I've had tons of back injuries, a weak core, etc. Does anyone know of any exercises that help someone become more flexible? Does yoga/pilates help at all?

03-02-2009, 09:50 PM	#2
BellaDonna Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: U.S. Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 6,583	Yoga definitely helps with flexibility. If you keep at it and push yourself a little further each time in the poses, you will be surprised how flexible you will become. It is also good at strengthening your muscles. Once you start stretching, you should try to keep up with it each day, to maintain the flexibility, even if it is for 5 minutes a day. I usually stretch before bed. Pilates is great for your core. When I've done it, it didn't really feel like I was becoming more flexible- but I did have better balance and a tighter core. __________________ "Well behaved women rarely make history." "Friendship should be a refuge, not an ordeal." Please see the forum rules for posting on enotalone:http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php

03-02-2009, 09:54 PM	#3
BellaDonna Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: U.S. Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 6,583	Also, if you purchase an exercise ball, some of them come with DVD's or charts which show various stretches you can do. That is another good way to become more flexible- and it might be easier for you to start that way so that if you need help, you can use the ball to lean on. __________________ "Well behaved women rarely make history."* "Friendship should be a refuge, not an ordeal." Please see the forum rules for posting on enotalone:http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php

03-06-2009, 03:11 PM	#5
-Ophelia- Offline Silver Member Join Date: May 2007 Gender: Female Age: 28 Posts: 367	If you want to work on your own pace, maybe purchasing a Yoga DVD is what you need. I started doing yoga in the comfort of my own home and it was great. I recommend Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss, a 45 minute full body workout, it's excellent! Or you can try any other Susan Deason Yoga DVD that are a lot shorter than this one. It has all the good moves.. Good luck! __________________ "Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice." -Wayne Dyer

03-06-2009, 03:16 PM	#6
BellaDonna Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: U.S. Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 6,583	[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] That's a good one too- you can choose from 3 levels- if you pick "beginner" the poses are not as intense. __________________ "Well behaved women rarely make history." "Friendship should be a refuge, not an ordeal." Please see the forum rules for posting on enotalone:http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php

03-05-2009, 10:06 PM	#4
kiwifly Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 262	Thanks for your suggestion! I did try to go to a Yoga class a year ago. I'm so stiff though that I found even the easiest positions to be challenging. Many times our instructor would come up to me and push my back/legs to resemble what she wanted and I'd have to tell her to stop right away because the pressure was causing pain at that point. I think I'll try again though and work at my own pace. The exercise ball sounds like a good suggestion to help keep me in the poses! Lately I've been doing my own stretches while watching tv. Reaching for my toes while sitting/standing, those sorts of things. Are there any specific moves that I should include that have helped others before?

03-08-2009, 09:21 AM	#7
kiwifly Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 262	Alright I'm definitely trying yoga dvds then. Thanks for your help!