I am no where near touching my toes. Horrible flexibility. Please help
- Thread starter arc90901
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- bodyweight fitness
@gopack4 (I am a yoga teacher) I feel like anyone who is new to it goes through that phase where you don’t know what you’re doing — you don’t know the pose names, not sure if you’re doing it right, etc. Don’t worry about it! It’s normal and you’ll get through it. Yes, it’s more about “feeling it”.
The number one thing is that you should never feel pain. Working hard, or some discomfort, that’s ok. But if you feel pain, stop/modify the pose. If you have specific questions, I’m sure teachers at your local studio will answer them, or head on over to r/yoga
The number one thing is that you should never feel pain. Working hard, or some discomfort, that’s ok. But if you feel pain, stop/modify the pose. If you have specific questions, I’m sure teachers at your local studio will answer them, or head on over to r/yoga
kathleen726
New member
@marcus94 One issue I have with just about all the yoga I've found is that it seems very unfocused and without much of a sense of progression. It reminds me of the people who use the gym by just walking around and using random machines until they feel like they've had a workout. I've yet to find a yoga routine as focused and goal orientated as a good exercise routine.
@kathleen726 I agree completely.
nappybobber
New member
@arc90901 I'm a 24 y/o female and I couldn't touch my toes either, but started stretching every.single.time I went to the gym or was doing a workout (which varied between 2-6 times a week). I would spend at least 15 minutes stretching, making sure I held every one for at least 30 seconds, but up to one minute most of the time. I was probably a little closer than you were but I can now wrap my hands around the soles of my feet fairly easily and that probably took about a month to six weeks of stretching.
The main stretch that seemed to help is this one https://goo.gl/images/Y7oGDz. I would recommend simply holding your leg as far down as you can. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds, then see if you can push yourself a little bit further (not to the point where it's hurting) if you do this at least 3 times a week you'll definitely start seeing improvements, but if you spend a couple of minutes doing it on the floor when watching TV each night, this will help you achieve it faster
Note, if you warm up with a light jog before or something that gets you slightly sweaty, you're muscles will also be warmed up and you'll have greater flexibility. If you're "cold" then they're not going to be as "stretchy". The best way to think of your muscles is as a red skin, if they're warm they're going to be stretchy.
I find that stretching is one of my favourite parts of whenever I do a workout because it doesn't hurt or take effort and you shouldn't see it as a chore or something that's annoying to do. Stretching everyday is extremely important for flexibility and it feels good!
If you want extra stretches, I would look up ones for your hamstring because this is the muscle that needs to be worked to be able to touch your toes.
The main stretch that seemed to help is this one https://goo.gl/images/Y7oGDz. I would recommend simply holding your leg as far down as you can. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds, then see if you can push yourself a little bit further (not to the point where it's hurting) if you do this at least 3 times a week you'll definitely start seeing improvements, but if you spend a couple of minutes doing it on the floor when watching TV each night, this will help you achieve it faster
Note, if you warm up with a light jog before or something that gets you slightly sweaty, you're muscles will also be warmed up and you'll have greater flexibility. If you're "cold" then they're not going to be as "stretchy". The best way to think of your muscles is as a red skin, if they're warm they're going to be stretchy.
I find that stretching is one of my favourite parts of whenever I do a workout because it doesn't hurt or take effort and you shouldn't see it as a chore or something that's annoying to do. Stretching everyday is extremely important for flexibility and it feels good!
If you want extra stretches, I would look up ones for your hamstring because this is the muscle that needs to be worked to be able to touch your toes.
lauraann1987
New member
@arc90901 Check out this guide for growing up a lotus - in other words, stretches that enable one to finally sit in a lotus position. You'll find plenty of stretches that are geared at increasing flexibility.
vitaliy711
New member
dejtemplet
New member
@dejtemplet I cannot
dejtemplet
New member
quantumchaos
New member
@dejtemplet I posted this above too but it might help you.
I stopped stretching for a couple years and came back to “barely reaching my knees”.
What worked for me (every single day):
Feet shoulder-width apart (or any otherwise stable degree of separation). Then bend forward and reach as far as painlessly possible. You should feel a stretch, no pain.
Then, in this position, let the head “hang”, and slowly put hands over head (trying to keep hands and arms as relaxed as possible), letting the column stretch and decompressing the neck (I usually hear a “pop” from my neck at this point as vertebrae align).
Then once more reach as far as painlessly possible, then slowly roll back up.
Everything should be painless STOP IF YOU FEEL PAIN
Edit: at some point I was able to touch the floor, when that point came I started bringing my legs closer so now I can touch the floor with my legs together AND touch my forehead to my knees. I’m a bit overweight but I’m proud of being able to do this.
I stopped stretching for a couple years and came back to “barely reaching my knees”.
What worked for me (every single day):
Feet shoulder-width apart (or any otherwise stable degree of separation). Then bend forward and reach as far as painlessly possible. You should feel a stretch, no pain.
Then, in this position, let the head “hang”, and slowly put hands over head (trying to keep hands and arms as relaxed as possible), letting the column stretch and decompressing the neck (I usually hear a “pop” from my neck at this point as vertebrae align).
Then once more reach as far as painlessly possible, then slowly roll back up.
Everything should be painless STOP IF YOU FEEL PAIN
Edit: at some point I was able to touch the floor, when that point came I started bringing my legs closer so now I can touch the floor with my legs together AND touch my forehead to my knees. I’m a bit overweight but I’m proud of being able to do this.
dejtemplet
New member
@quantumchaos I too want to let me body hang/hinge forward like that. Seems so relaxing!
quantumchaos
New member
@dejtemplet It is! It’s part of my sleep/wake up routine, sometimes I do actual yoga, but when I’m too lazy for it I do just this.
I also sit on my knees and lean back until I feel a stretch on the hips/abs trying to keep lower back straight —this one I forget often but it helps with my sciatica pain and improper hip posture.
I also sit on my knees and lean back until I feel a stretch on the hips/abs trying to keep lower back straight —this one I forget often but it helps with my sciatica pain and improper hip posture.