Stretching

[Goozeer]

Can anybody tell me how to learn to stretch this way.
I don't know what's it called in English, but it's when you're legs are flat on the ground and the body still straight,
like this __|__ I hope somebody knows what I try to explain

[likuid]

I think you're talking about a 'split'.


I'm working on that myself. It's a slow and painful process (slow if you want to do it without injury). I just take of my shoes and wear something lose, I then stand up and start spreading my feet and my legs. I go as far as I can go, with all of my body weight pushing down. I hold it for 2-3 minute intervals (OUCH!). Eventually you'll notice that you can go further and further.

If that's too slow, get two trucks facing opposite directions, two pieces of chain and.........ahhhh nevermind

[jester700]

If you're really working your stretches, please make sure your muscles are really warm. You'll get better results and greatly reduce the risk of a strain.

The MAs I studied stretched at the beginning of class, not afterwards (well, sometimes, but not always), and I wonder why. Seems silly to keep doing it this way.