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First time you mastered the splits?
So my cousin scared me out of ever trying to do the splits. She said it hurt so bad she cried and had to be helped up, blah blah blah. What happened with you ladies when you were FIRST able to do the splits? I have been trying to condition a bit…arms/upper body, and flatten my tummy…lol. Doing some arm excercises, pushups, and 100 crunches every other night. I want to start doing stretching to be able to do the splits but it's safe to say I'm a scaredy cat about it and if I'm mentally against it, it WONT happen. I plan to purchase Veena's tutorials when I get my pole, but until then I want to work out as much as possible including stretching. So please de bunk any myths about the splits for me if you can. Thank you. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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10 Replies
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I need to work on my flexability as well https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_pumpkin.gif
Its likely that your cousin pushed too quickly and did a split when she wasn't ready and just tells you things judging from her personal experience. The first and only time I did a split was when I was about 9 years old at a skating rink when my legs went out the wrong way and my butt hit the floor. I was left skating towards the benches sore but it wasn't terribly bad since kids are more flexible but I would likely break my legs off if I accidently did a split today before I'm physically ready for one.
I wouldn't worry yourself over it. Flexibility doesn't happen overnight and neither do splits but training your body to do them pays off in the end. Watching Veena's vids will definitely help. I haven't purshased any yet though but everyone suggests them ^^
Also, Alethea Austin has videos out that help with flexibility and splits that you may find helpful. I'm definitely interested in them https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif
http://badkittypolewear.com/pole-dancing-dvds-books-c-6.html?zenid=8ce4ee1754076d0fc38c6dedca68baab
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Yeah, if it hurt her that much your cousin wasn't flexible enough for the splits. Normally you're working towards a full split in baby steps. If it hurts too much you just stop and stay at that height. Developing flexiblity takes a lot of time.
I always use two chairs to help me stay up in the air, I find it more comfortable than supporting my weight on the ground with the hands. So to get into the splits I have two chairs standing opposed to each other and I put my hands/elbows down on them. Between the chairs I split the legs as far apart as I can. If it hurts too much I can just push myself up with my arms to get out.
You'll feel if you're flexible enough to go all the way down to the ground or not. If you're not ready then don't do it and it doesn't have to hurt that much https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
(And I could get out of my first split on my own and I didn't cry – I picked up my camera to do it again to check if I did it right https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif )
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it took me years to finally be able to do the splits, and i can only do them on my right side. I worked hard in gymnastics and dance. Sometimes being pushed but it wasn't untill i overcame my own mental fear that it would hurt was i able to move that last two inches to the floor. It takes time, but if you ease into it and listen to your body it shouldn't hurt anymore then any other stretch.
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Since I just got the first split in my life yesterday I think I should share:) It's not perfect but it is still the first time my butt actually touched the floor:) And I thought I would never be able to do it but never say never…
https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_photo/4f18873a-9cb8-4b6e-a9fe-69860ac37250
The fact is that all flexibility training hurts a little but you should never go past your pain limit. Just stretch until you feel a little resistance in your muscles and then try to relax by using your breath. You should stay in each pose for about 30 seconds and try to go a little deeper each time as you exhale. Do it after your workout when your muscles are warm and don't just do the splits, stretch yourself in every direction. I think Veena lessons or some stretching dvds would be really helpful.
Now when I see some results I'm really looking forward to my stretching sessions. It's pelasure pain ;))
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It sounds like your cousin probably either A) accidntally did a split for the first time before she was ready, or B) was forced down into a split with help from someone/s else. The reason I say this, is I know of some people that have purposly torn their legs muscles all up by getting as close to a split as possible and then having one or sometimes up to three people bear down on their shoulders until the muscles tear and they are flat on the floor in a split. It sounds like torture and I think it is, but I have seen this done first hand. It was especailly popular with cheer leaders and is NOT the way to go about learning how to do the splits.
For me personally, when I started working on my flexibilty I could hardly touch my toes. It took me two years to be able to to my first perfect split on the floor. And all I did was stretch and pole. There was no pain involved except for that slight pull you feel when your getting a good deep stretch. Stretching and flexibilty training should NEVER be that painful. My very first split I could feel the stretch of being in a split but I was comfortable in it as well.
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Take your time to stretch a little each time & feel comfortable when stretching. Gradually you can split. Some takes longer time than others. Don't push too hard as it'll hurt your muscles.
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I was just shocked by some of the responses here. omg ppl are so undereducated when it comes to stretching. You want to avoid any kind of muscle tear because every tear becomes scar tissue. You want to avoid scar tissue buildup because scars are not muscles and they don't stretch! scar is tough, inlfexible collagen and wIth every tear you decrease your range of motion, and flexibility.
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The first time I got my splits was last year. I stretched using the “splits in 6” program: http://www.unique-bodyweight-exercises.com/splits.html
I had only been stretching for splits for about 3 weeks. However, I’ve been doing yoga for several years and I know the importance of warming up before deep stretching. Even though it only took me about 3 weeks, I never over stretched or felt great pain. It was a “good pain”. The kind you get when you’re in a really nice stretch. 🙂 -
My first solid split!: https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_photo/4ea5a5db-f864-4ea0-a7f4-43a30ac37250
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It took me 6 months of actively trying for splits to GET a full flat split! I would focus on flexibility by doing yoga 3x/week, with one of them focusing on deep postures and squared splits every week. It's all about conditioning your hamstrings and hips to open up. You work into it slowly over time. Not instantly or you'll injure yourself. Be KIND to your body.
The first time I felt the back of my front thigh hit the ground, I had the BIGGEST smile inside. It felt GOOD. No pain. Just so GOOD! And this was just this past fall 2011. Haha! I've been practicing yoga for 1.5 years and pole for 5 years. Splits never happened till recently. Good luck!
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