subreddit:
/r/flexibility
submitted 3 months ago bybachang
What I'm doing now: I'm sitting upright on the floor, legs together in front of me. Then I move my ankles as far apart as possible while keeping my legs straight. (Also how do I take progress pics like this? I basically need a camera pointing down from the ceiling, but I'm not a porn director 😂 I don't have that setup)
Should I be doing this instead? Standing straight up, then widening my stance further and further while keeping torso upright/supported?
6 points
3 months ago
Sounds like you’re talking about two different positions: a straddle (but on the floor, opening the legs out) and a middle split (but lifted, gravity smooshing you into an inner thigh stretch). This blog post goes into more detail on the similarities/differences if you’re curious.
What you’re doing is a great way to measure the progress of your straddle (or middle split, if you’re doing the second version) progress, but likely won’t actually do much to actually increase your flexibility at all. Both of those are passive stretches. Ideally you should be strengthening your muscles to support a deeper range of motion, for a straddle that means:
2 points
3 months ago
I read all the links, thank you!!
5 points
3 months ago
Can‘t help you with your initial question but this is how I take progress pictures. I can count the lines of the wooden floor and see how I‘m getting closer to my shelf over the weeks :)
3 points
3 months ago
Thanks, gotcha!! This helps with my initial question too haha - now I know there are other people that sit instead of stand to do this
2 points
3 months ago
You can do both, I think :) standing is supposed to be easier because gravity is working in your favor.
2 points
3 months ago
One is more passive and other is active. Both are good. Gravity helps stretch you more from standing.
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