Progress Towards Side Splits

Hello!

     Side splits have always been something that I wanted, but never knew how to achieve.  I would do wide legged seated forward bend static stretches daily, but never made any progress.  I got a small amount of progress in martial arts class with partner stretching, but still not enough.  Once I learned about kinesiological stretching and learned some of those stretches, I got some progress.  The most progress so far has been through Easy Flexibility.  I purchased their Master Splits Combo (it has 9 training programs: Side Splits, Open Front Splits, and True Front Splits, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced programs for each type of split).

     So far I have spent the most time on the Side Splits.  In the spring I started the beginner program.  I chose that because my side splits were less than 135 degrees.  I did the program slightly less than once per week for a couple of months (and then took a break for a few months due to an injury in my right hip flexors that I got during Lyra class conditioning exercises and an injury in my right deep buttock region obtained while doing canicross style trail running with my huskies).  Over the summer I maintained the progress I had made with mild static stretching, because it would not have been safe to try to increase my flexibility while injured.  It took a long time for the injuries to heal, probably because those areas get used even while "resting".  I still walk and go up and down my stairs, etc.  Plus I did a lot of physical labor work over the summer (I removed decaying concrete stairs with a sledgehammer and built a deck and new stairs to replace it).

     Yesterday I decided I am ready to start again, but now I have moved up to the intermediate program because my side splits angle has gone above 135 degrees.  My plan for now is to do the Side Split Intermediate Program once per week (either before or after the ZGym workout that I do on that day).

     I am eager to get to 180 degrees, but I must be patient.  My body does not build muscle easily and heals slowly, so patience is very important for me.  Below are the photos of "before" and "during" for my side splits.  The pics were taken in May and October.  I really hope to be able to post a lovely "after" photo in the future, of me at 180 degrees! 

     If anyone reading is wondering about the measurements on the photos, I used an app called Stretch 180.  Here's a screenshot of it on my phone:

     I mostly just use this for checking my progress (like in the photos above), and have found it quite useful.

     As I mentioned above, I started the Side Split Intermediate program yesterday (after doing Power Yoga #35 in the ZGym).  That was not on the ZGym schedule, but I was feeling off due to fighting the mild cold that's going around.  Today I have only a small amount of muscle soreness, so that is good and I think the intermediate level is right for me now.  I did the ZGym Power Yoga #33 today (also not on the ZGym schedule for today, but I'm sticking to only yoga and stretching until I'm over this mild cold).  Note that if my cold was worse or if I had a fever, I would not be exercising, I would be following the rest and fluids plan.

     I will write about the other splits programs later.  Happy stretching until next time!

  Disclaimer: As an affiliate of Easy Flexibility I will receive commission if anyone clicks on the link in the image and makes a purchase. 

 




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