Stopped Making Progress with Splits

spinnygirl started this discussion · 2/26/2011

I was doing so awesome and all of a sudden I am much higher up off the ground and it seems that I lock up so easily. Why isn't my progress consistent? I'm warmed up and everything. My thoughts: 1. I'm psyching myself out and tensing 2. I'm doing something wrong with static/dynamic/resistance stretching. I've been randomly trying out different combo stretches without really knowing how they work. There are so many books and articles about stretching and each theory seems so different, its confusing. Anyone else get stuck in their splits progress? And to think I could oversplit as a kid...gragh!

8 replies

chemgoddess1 · 2/26/2011
Are you also strength training at all? For me muslce gain = loss in flexibility. Also if my muscles are tight I have issues. Foam roller or massage works wonders for me.
EvaRut · 2/26/2011
This happened to me. I was stuck at the same place with the splits and some days I would be worse for a few weeks and then finally I I got into the splits and sometimes I can get into a split and sometimes I can't.. I don't know why but maybe its just yout body getting used to the stretching. I guess patience and persistance is the key?
spinnygirl · 2/27/2011
I stopped strength training. Whoa, that's interesting. I was doing P90X at the same time but with my intense poling and stretching, I was practically working out half the day and I am morphing into the hulk. Its been about...a month since I stopped P90X. Darn it, I guess I have to alternate now between poling and P90X. But I do have some good news, I finally inverted!!! Yay!!! I took Veena's advice and don't kick into it, just lift myself up smoothly. Well, not THAT smoothly but it'll get there. Thanks for the advice!
Kira · 2/27/2011
I'm having the exact same problem! there's been no change in pole training/strength training, only upped my stretching to 3 times a week around an hour or more each time. I've never had a problem getting into my left splits, right splits was ok and i was reeeeally close to getting my stomach/chest to the floor in the middle straddle splits but now I can hardly get down in my left splits!! I seemed to have taken a big step back in my flexibility and that in the space of a week or so, it's annoying and upsetting. I thought stretching more would help!!
spinnygirl · 2/27/2011
ollie-I started stretching more too thinking I wasn't pushing myself and I just regressed even further. I read online to give it a break for a week and come back to it. I'm going to focus on strength training and I think I'm going to buy a book by a flexibility expert. I'll try the roller too and I read somewhere to have someone massage the back of your neck as you're doing the splits to keep you from tensing.
Veena · 2/27/2011
When you stop seeing progress or feel as though you have regressed, its time to either take a break (from whatever it is your doing). Taking time off does not mean you will loose everything, it may be just what your bodies is asking you to do. 🌸 Take a look at your stretching routine... Are you always really warm before you start? Have you been pushing too far? (I only do heavy flexibility training 2x's a week, sometimes only once) Stretching too far or too often will not give most people good results. Are you using your pole dance time as an opportunity to extend into the positions and movements as fully as you can? This will help you see improvement as well. 🥂
Evie Bloom · 2/27/2011
I am stuck in my splits progress with my left leg forward. The other side I am nearly to the floor when warmed up. I hurt my left knee on the pole and the muscles have gone very tight (I think I may have torn something) A sports physio gave me some exercises to strengthen the muscles and my knee has not slid out sideways since. The thing is I am not sure how careful to be with it. If I do stretches I get a pulling sensation. I always stop before it hurts. I just don't know how far to push it. Ideally I want to stretch the muscle out again but I don't want to injure it further As long at there is no actual pain is it ok to stretch further? it doesn't feel like my other muscles that just give. Hoping that someone has had experience with injury and has any tips. Doctors and physios just tend to say stop everything altogether. Which is of no help! Because we all know that is just not going to happen, poling is too fun!
Veena · 2/27/2011
@ Lainey...unfortunately without knowing what the DRs have told you or really knowing what the injury was I can't tell you if its ok. The best thing you can do is listen to your body and be sure that your stretching the whole body and not just certain muscle groups. In order to be truly flexible we have to work the whole body. Sometimes issues with one part of the body are coming from some where else entirely. 😉