I have a question about flexibility. And no, not flexibility as in what I might normally talk about in this space- the flexibility to work from home, or work/life balance, or things like that.
I am literally talking about flexibility, of your body.
Is it actually possible to really improve flexibility???
I feel like I am SO inflexible, and it kind of bothers me. I also feel like it’s getting worse?
I mean, when I did a gymnastics as a kid, there was a reason that was a rather short-lived “sports career” for me (well, and I also grew to almost 5’9″ by like, age 12 or 13 which is not highly compatible with being a gymnast!). I was never particularly flexible, but I am sure I was at least more flexible than I am now.
Last night I did this random 10 minute You Tube stretching video after a little home cardio session, and the woman in the video instructed us to do this:
I am not joking- I cannot even bend like, 1/4 of the way down like she is. (And she isn’t even all the way down! I’ve seen videos where they casually just stretch their chest all the way to the floor.)
When I do it, I basically just look like I’m sitting straight up with my arms stretched out to the sides. My body does not move any further.
It got me wondering… surely this is something that can be improved?? Has anyone drastically improved their flexibility? It seems very daunting to me, like one of those things that I just do not ever see getting better.
But, maybe? Maybe I should make a concerted effort to work on this.
I’ve read things lately about how people really do get stiffer as they get older if they aren’t careful, and it can lead to many body ailments. I already feel like I have a “bad back”- my lower back frequently hurts (I had some issues with it way back in my volleyball days in high school, and it’s been kind of a nagging issue ever since.) It’s been especially bad lately, to the point that I’m considering getting it checked out. I do not feel like the frequency, or intensity, with which I experience back pain is normal for an active 39.58 year old.
If you’ve dramatically improved your flexibility, tell me how! Or have you always been flexible? Is this something I really can improve on? I’ll admit, yoga/stretching/ etc. has never been a big focus of mine. I typically aim for maybe 1x/ week of some sort of 10-20 minute stretching routine… I’m sure this is not nearly enough to make a difference, and I’ve not always even been consistent with doing it weekly.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for this week almost being over because I’m kinda drowning over here!! But it’s been a lot of good stuff, too.
GRATEFUL KAE 
Yes, it can be improved. My goal for my college gym class was to touch my toes from a standing hamstring stretch. I am usually very inflexible and I was able to do it after a semester of 3x a week yoga (like 20 min videos). In addition, when I did a mostly Barre based workout program was when I felt the best combo of flexible and strong (unfortunately I didn’t take before/after pics).
LikeLike
Well that’s good to know! The only time I tried Barre workouts was the program on Beachbody. I remember I did it during the summer of 2020 when I switched to home workouts during the pandemic. I did like it! And it was WAY harder than I anticipated!
LikeLike
That’s the one! I felt the best combo of strength and flexibility ever and have been chasing that feeling ever since haha.
LikeLike
Can’t you do the same program again?? Or do you not have BB anymore?
LikeLike
Oh yeah I just moved away from BB to try other stuff, wanted to mix in more sports/cardio etc and their programs seemed so rigid to me. I’ve been tempted to go back though.
LikeLike
Haha, I definitely couldn’t do that, even when I was doing hot yoga 2x a week. But I have gone from being very inflexible to being able to touch my toes through a regular yoga class.
LikeLike
That’s encouraging!! Maybe I can pick a couple stretches to use as a “measuring stick” of sorts and specifically pay attention to where I can reach now, and see if I can notice any improvement if I stick with it for a while.
LikeLike
I don’t think I could do that kind of stretch either, even in my youth. I remember the v sit part of the presidential fitness challenge. I did ok but there was one girl in my class that could reach SO FAR. I do think I’m more flexible than the average person. I have some weird joint flexibility in my hips. Like as a child, I could lay on the ground and put my feet behind my head. We have a family history of hip dysplasia, though. So I might have had a minor case of that? I do think flexibility can be improved but I feel like some are more naturally flexible than others. Also my understand is that strength training shortens your muscles, so works against flexibility? Similarly, running sort of shortens your hamstrings, I believe, so the more you run, the less flexibility in the hamstrings. But trying to work on flexibility while training for a race means you are fighting a never ending battle if that makes sense.
I think I’d have to have a regular practice of yoga to really improve my flexibility and that’s not something I’ve prioritized. I did lots of yoga in addition to running in my pre-kid days but that was a different world and I can’t imagine having the time I did back then to focus on running AND yoga! I loved the studio I went to because in addition to traditional yoga classes, they also had yoga sculpt which combined cardio, strength training and yoga. I LOVED that class!
I bet Nicole from girl in a boy house will have an excellent answer to this!
LikeLike
Yes, I’ve also heard that about strength training! I’ve thought about that a lot and feel that I really need to be extra intentional about stretching since as you know, strength training is my primary form of exercise.
I also hope Nicole see this post and chimes in!! I bet she’ll have the expert answer. 😉
LikeLike
This is an interesting question! I did have neck/upper back pain and saw a PT when I was in my late 20s.. she gave me stretches/exercises to do 7 times a day!! I was overwhelmed but jumped in and did the routine she gave me and it helped the pain immensely. But I don’t know if that was due to more flexibility or just increased strength of muscles that were weak.
I am not super flexible, but I have really long arms, so I feel like I look like I am more flexible than I actually am- lol.
LikeLike
Wow, that’s crazy about the PT results! This makes me think that I really should get my back looked at. If there’s something I could be doing to help, I think it would definitely be worth it. It confuses me because I always hear that back pain can be caused by a weak core, but I don’t think I HAVE a weak core!! I regularly do both ab and back exercises- though maybe I don’t target my lower back/ spinal column in just the right way. More of my back exercises are more targeted at upper back/ delts/ etc. So I don’t know. I’m sure a PT would be able to hone in on the specific issue hopefully.
LikeLike
Yes and no. Flexibility can be improved, but some bodies aren’t meant to ever do the splits, so it’s not like if you stretched all day every day you would eventually become as limber as an Olympic gymnast if your body isn’t meant to. BUT! Stretching is important to help support muscles that are doing a lot of work, so I think it’s worth spending some time on it.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but our local healthcare group has free 15-min stretch classes at lunchtime a few times a week. They’re free! They’re fun! Maybe you could start with something like that and see if you want to move into something more formal, like a yoga routine or something?
(The link is: https://www.forthealthcare.com/class/fort-healthcare-digital-class-series/ You have to register for classes, but they are free. The lady who does them is on vacation, so we won’t have a stretch class until 6/9. I just really like this as a way to force me to take a few minutes a few times a week to do some stretches outside of my normal fitness routine.)
LikeLike
YES, I was actually going to go back and search your posts for info about the class, because I remember you talking about it. I could totally see jumping on as a little mid day break!! And the structure of it would be good for me- I’d be more likely to do it. I’m going to put that on my calendar and try it!! Thanks!
LikeLike
I absolutely think you can improve your flexibility. I’m never going to be able to get my legs into that wide of a V like the woman, but I’d be able to improve over time to get more flexible from my personal starting point. When I did an actual strength training program (like the classes organized for me), every day integrated stretching and it was so annoying BUT YET!!!!!! Turns out, it actually makes a difference. UGH. Even 5-10 minutes after the workout of actual, dedicated stretching (not just the half ass stuff I do on my own) makes a huge difference in my own soreness and readiness to do more the next day, and does impact your progress. (I didn’t follow this advice and today did a 15 min core, and 20 min upper body strength and probably should now do at least a 5 min stretch but UGH I don’t WANT TO)
LikeLike
I never stretch immediately after working out, either. I’m usually in such a rush to get home/ back to work/ whatever. If I do stretch, it’s typically a dedicated “stretch session” like on a Sunday morning or something. My issue is just that I always have so many different things I would like to incorporate into my daily routine… I need the day to have more hours. Hahaha.
LikeLike
I agree that there are wide variations on how naturally flexible people are, but that it’s also possible to improve one’s flexibility. I remember becoming at least a bit more flexible when I was a doing a ton of yoga. (I AM NOT FLEXIBLE NOW!!!).
LikeLike
Do you think you are less flexible since you’ve been running more? Lisa was saying how running can shorten your hamstrings apparently. But strength training also apparently decreases flexibility, so I guess no matter what we do for exercise, we all just need to stretch more. 😄
LikeLike
I agree with everyone else here… I think it’s totally possible to improve flexibility, and while you might not get down to the floor with your chest, you’ll see a difference over time… but yeah, it takes time and effort. Like Hannah said, I used to be able to not touch the floor bending forward, but now I can. Comfortably. I am not sure exactly WHAT has made the difference over time but incorporating more strength, stretching and yoga has helped for sure over the last couple of years.
Join me for a yoga streak (10+ min/day) in May?
LikeLike
I meant June. JUNE! How is it June???
LikeLike
OOH, I love this idea!! YES! Let’s do it!!! (Except I missed yesterday already, but it can be a June 2-30 streak?! Hahhaa.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not very flexible in some joints (and some never will be), but I’ve noticed a marked changes after weekly yoga + pilates, about 45 min, 2-3x a week.
LikeLike
Do you go to a class, or do this on your own? Any recommendations of videos, etc?
LikeLike
I am not very flexible either, but at one point I was doing this yoga routine once or twice a week and it was very helpful! And it made my arms more toned, so you can’t complain about that! https://youtu.be/ps3vmnVsnF8
LikeLike
Oh thanks! I have done some of the stretching routines on Beachbody (since I still have the yearly membership active and am otherwise not using it much, so I figured might as well…). But I’d love to have some good Youtube options that I could do even away from home, or in my room before bed if I wanted, etc.
LikeLike
I think flexibility is partly genetic partly training. I find to lose it quickly if I don’t stretch enough and focus only on weight training, but if I do it consistently for few weeks, I get it back. Give it a try and you’ll likely to see improvement.
LikeLike
I am not flexible, like, at all. That lady on YouTube is impressive but I would not be able to do that. I use to be into yoga and then I had kids lol
LikeLike
I am NOT flexible — like, I cannot imagine doing that semi-splits arms on the floor kind of move. But I do find that with repeated stretching and exercise, my flexibility DOES improve. For example, one of the exercise videos I do has part of the stretching routine where you lace your hands together behind your back and sort of pull your arms away from your body. I could NOT do that, pretty much AT ALL when I started. But after a few months of doing it two or three times a week, it is much easier.
LikeLike
Finally catching up on all of the great comments here now. I’d love to join in some kind of flexibility/stretching challenge!
LikeLike