We all know that one dancer that seems to just have bones of rubber. Their leaps go into over splits and they make penchés look effortless. Not everyone can be naturally very flexible and often it doesn’t come easy. Gaining flexibility is difficult but it is an important physical advantage to every dancer. 

    It can be frustrating watching others with their nice clean lines while dancing. And feeling the pull in the back of your leg from splits can be very uncomfortable. While all body types are different and have different natural flexibility, everyone can work on stretching out their muscles and create a greater range of movement. It is hard work and will take time but I have some tips on speeding up the process and making it as painless as possible. 

Some stretches that most dance classes do are standing straddle stretches. Standing with your feet outside of your shoulder width gradually lean forward trying to keep your pine relatively flat and if you can reach, grab your ankles and slowly pull your upper body closer to your legs.  Pull until you feel a good stretch but do not cause yourself any major pain. For a more focused stretch shift your torso to the left or right which will create a deeper stretch in that specific leg. 

I recommend floor stretches. It takes less balance and uses gravity to help you stretch instead of you having to pull your body to feel the stretch. Sitting with your back straight make a diamond shape with your legs and press the bottoms of your feet together. You may already feel the stretch in your hip sockets. Gradually lean forward to feel the stretch in your hamstring. Keeping your back straight imagine that you are trying to touch your forehead to your toes. This type of stretch hits more points than the standing stretch which can help shorten the time it takes to get so flexibility for your body. 

What is your flexibility story? Were you born naturally flexible or is it something you had to work on? What types of stretches have you found work best for you? Let me know in the comments below! Make sure you subscribe to my blog and head on over to my youtube channel and watch some of my videos. Share this post with your fellow unflexible friends and get together to start stretching!