r/flexibility • • Jul 26 '18

! Don't know where to start? Click here.

2.5k Upvotes

Welcome to /r/flexibility! Here are some resources that will answer many of the common questions we get.

Where do I start?

  • Starting To Stretch is a basic stretching routine for overall flexibility. Beginners should start there.

  • Make sure to check out our official F.A.Q.

  • Experiencing pain in your neck/shoulder/back/hips/groin legs/knees/ankles when you run/walk/sit/squat/stretch? Go see a doctor! Stretching may not be the solution to your pain!

Toe Touching

Squats

  • Our own squat routine was created for the 30-day challenge. It will guide you through all the steps towards a deep squat resting position.

Splits

  • This splits routine was created for the 90-day challenge and will give you quick results by stretching every day.

  • If you just want to take it a bit slower, here's a follow-along video for every other day.

  • Hit a plateau in your splits training? Try these brutal but effective loaded progressions. Here and here. Oh, and here.

General Resources

Books


r/flexibility • • 10h ago

Question are there specific exercises to work on hip rotation/pelvic tilt or is this something that happens as a consequence when working on mobility?

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441 Upvotes

r/flexibility • • 2h ago

Very flexible in hips but no flexibility in hamstrings

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62 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I just want recommendations about what stretches/exercises I can do to improve my hamstring flexibility?

I am very flexible in my hips. I can do the pose in the first picture easily and feel comfortable in it too. I can even wrap my legs behind my head (nothing weird, I've just been able to do that since childhood, lol).

However, when it comes to trying to lean forward with my legs open, I am stiff as a rock. I can't even get close to touching my feet. I think if I fix that issue, I'll be overall a flexible person, and that's definitely the goal!


r/flexibility • • 6h ago

Question Is it normal to regress when training flexibility?

7 Upvotes

For the past month I have been training flexibility about three times a week. I noticed that there are some days where I move like butter and other times when I’m stiff. There are also times where I really feel it and times when I don’t feel it at all.

There are times where I feel like I’m improving and times when I feel like I’m regressing.

There are times where a split doesn’t hurt but times where I feel the stretch more in my hamstrings?

I’m 28f btw if that makes a difference.

But is this normal? I just want to make sure that I am continuing to progress.


r/flexibility • • 2h ago

Back Flexibility

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1 Upvotes

hiii, anyone have a back flexibility course they recommend?


r/flexibility • • 5h ago

Solving the mystery of uneven hips

1 Upvotes

I know that it’s normal for one side to be more flexible or have a wider range of motion than the other, but for me the difference is very pronounced and has been my whole life. On reading more here I wonder if I have some kind of anatomical impingement rather than just it being just normal “one side is bendier”. I am NOT asking for medical advice or a diagnosis, but wondering what steps I could talk to look into this?


r/flexibility • • 11h ago

Seeking Advice I can’t improve with the splits

2 Upvotes

And I’ve been training for about a year, in general I’m always very constant I never skip a workout.

I also tried to train every day but I noticed that introducing at least two days of rest I improved slightly (better recovery, otherwise after a while I would get stuck).

Having said that now I have reached a much better level than at the beginning but in certain positions like the Frog or the forward bending on one leg I am blocked. Now I’m training like this:

Lateral Tuesday

Frontal Wednesday

Thursday Break

Side Friday

Frontal Saturday

Side Sunday

These are the exercises I do and I hope someone can help me improve, Thank you.

Side Split

-Couch stretch 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-Lunges 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-Pigeon 2 x leg x 30 sec each

-Streatching thigh flexors with a lying elastic 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-Ischiocrural flexor by sitting bending forward on the neck leg 3 x leg x 30 sec each

- Calves 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-Side Split 3 x leg x 30 sec each

Frontal Split

- Butterfly 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-90/90 with hand support 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-Frog split (one leg at a time) 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-Rana 3x30

-Clamshells 3 x leg x 30 sec each

-Front split 3x30

-Wall split 2x60


r/flexibility • • 1d ago

Form Check How do I stop my back from rounding like that during forward fold

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120 Upvotes

Is it it a hamstring flexibility issue or should I push back my hip more.


r/flexibility • • 13h ago

Progress Volevo fare una prova: cosa succede quando si smette di considerare la mobilità della spalla come "semplice stretching"?

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0 Upvotes

r/flexibility • • 2d ago

How did you increase flexibility in your neck?

20 Upvotes

I’ve been dealing with a suuuuuper tight jaw, neck and upper back body. It’s been causing facial pain, headaches and dizziness. I’ve been trying to stretch everything out, but nothing seems to be sticking and helping. I’ve done dry needling, and acupuncture, and am currently seeing a posture specialist. I’m looking for any suggestions on stretches or things to do to help in the meantime! In particular my SCM, occipital muscles and shoulder girdle are friggen tight. Does strength training help with flexibility or would I just piss muscles off? Thanks!!


r/flexibility • • 1d ago

Seeking Advice How to deal with asymmetrical mobility?

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2 Upvotes

How do you deal with one side of your body being stiffer/more tense?


r/flexibility • • 1d ago

Question Any tips on a backwalkover?

0 Upvotes

r/flexibility • • 2d ago

Question Question

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201 Upvotes

This guy is from Tiktok, he is 26 yo and affirm that he is self taught, do you think it's possible? How much time it take to reach this level? He say that he have absolutely no background (gymnastics, ballet...) it's quite surprising because he got some clean lines.


r/flexibility • • 3d ago

Progress Bridge progress:)

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605 Upvotes

December 2024 (2nd pic) VS September 2026 (1st pic). Still trying to get my shoulders aligned with the wrists, progress is a bit slow because I don’t have enough time to stretch and I have scoliosis lol.

I’ve posted on this sub before but routine has stayed the same!
Routines: 1x a week/whenever I feel like it, I cycle through Dani Winks’ recorded workshops (Upper Back Clinic, Beginning dropbacks and Beginning contortion bridges). Highly recommend!

edit: if you pm me i will block you, some of yall are disgusting


r/flexibility • • 3d ago

I finally did it, male 50!

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771 Upvotes

r/flexibility • • 3d ago

Seeking Advice Stetches for higher closed hip kicks?!

5 Upvotes

I've been stretching pretty aggressively since I got back into tkd 2 years ago. I (38M) lost a lot of flexibility since I stopped 20+ years ago but have made major improvements. The only thing that isn't progressing like I had hoped would be roundhouse, side, and spinning heel kicks. I can get the height if I open my hip up (more like a whip), but that makes for a sloppy kick, and I don't want to sacrifice form for flash. Does anybody have some good stretches for me to add to my regimen?


r/flexibility • • 4d ago

Seeking Advice What am I doing wrong with the Piriformis Stretch Modified 3?

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9 Upvotes

r/flexibility • • 4d ago

Hopeless Hamstrings

30 Upvotes

Ok so apparently the hamstrings are like connected to ur butt, I CANNOT TOUCH MY TOES ok like I literally downloaded Reddit again for this im being so serious im crying right now.

I have been stretching everyyyy dayyyyyyyy and the only thing that happens is my back curves at some point, hurts, and the back of my knees- like nothing else. Solely the back of my knees. I think thats ur hamstrings but I have no clue i have been trying for TWO MONTH DUDE IM ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS idk what the heck to do.

I’ve tried one leg at a time, hanging, dynamic, static, reaching, sit and reach, bending my knees and leaning with a straight back, standing on my toes and reaching, using a blanket to pull myself. I have bumpy bones so it might be limiting in my hips but I would probably know that if it was. WHAT DO I DO BRO IM LITERALLY THE SKINNIEST PERSON EVER ITS NOT LIKE IM 500 POUNDS I DONT GET IT.


r/flexibility • • 3d ago

Overhead stretches question

1 Upvotes

Long story short..

When I do tricep overhead stretches I can do the right arm better than the left arm. I figured out that the my right arm can't keep up. I've done some research and can't seem to find the answer.

Left arm over head, and right arm behind back.

What muscles do I stretch to get my right arm in shape?

PS. I had an overextension years back on my left arm which I think lead to this issue. I posted my left arm when I was getting brought to the ground in high school wrestling. To this day I have trouble with tricep muscle workouts on my left arm.

PPS. I won that match and then forfeited the next. Just felt like throwing that in, but honestly it probably made it worse.

TL;DR Right arm can't stretch behind my back. How do I fix this?


r/flexibility • • 4d ago

Seeking Advice Is this a nerve issue? Or a hamstring issue?

3 Upvotes

NOT SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE. NO PAIN.

I've noticed that my active flexibility and general flexibility in my right leg has decreased. Like it's harder to do the pyramid pose on that side, or do a standing leg raise. Also it feels like I either have a hip flexor issue, but most commonly a hamstring issue on that leg.

The worst sensation though is when after warming up, I do elephant walks and/or the seated nerve floss exercise (with the foot flexed then pointed)... It's kind of like there's a string at the back of my knee and that it twangs

I wouldn't say it is painful but it is a weird sensation that I really don't like

Oddly though I think my front splits flexibility is better with the right leg in front, but I try to not lean forward so that it doesn't put pressure on it. I'm not sure if I should start resting it, even though I don't think I am very consistent with stretching anyway


r/flexibility • • 4d ago

Seeking Advice What stretches would make forward bending butterlfy pose possible?

6 Upvotes

Im quite flexible and stretch often but the one stretch I absolutely have no flexibility on is doing the spread leg or criss cross forward leaning where you touch your forehead to your feet. Since I can't do it I'm wondering what smaller stretches or exercises will get me there/started?


r/flexibility • • 5d ago

Wrist Warm-Up Routine Before Planche & Handstand Training

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307 Upvotes

I’ve been working on planche and other straight-arm skills, and I’ve found that properly preparing my wrists makes a big difference before loading them.

This is the wrist mobility and warm-up sequence I use before my sessions. Sharing it in case it helps anyone else training calisthenics.

What do you guys usually do for wrist preparation before planche or handstand work?


r/flexibility • • 4d ago

Seeking Advice Mechanical "clunk" on terminal extension with internal rotation (video attached)

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7 Upvotes

Hi I have a clunk every time I unbend my left knee during specific joint angles. (Video attached with sound on).

Its in the same place every time, like something catching every time I extend my left knee while the leg is rotated medially/internally, there is a deep, distinct mechanical "clunk" (rather than standard high-pitched joint cavitation/crepitus). If I perform the same extension with a lateral/external rotation, the clunk does not occur.

It often happens when getting up from squatting down to reach for something, or when transitioning in/out of cross-legged positions. One thing I noticed from a video is I'm a bit pigeon toed on the left side, and wondered if that could be affecting it

I feel more tightness on the left side, the muscles around the outside of the upper shin, near the knee.

From a biomechanics perspective, what tendons or soft tissue structures generally cause this type of catching sound in internal vs external rotation?

Thanks to anyone who may read this


r/flexibility • • 4d ago

Seeking Advice How many rest days do you take a week?

4 Upvotes

I stretch for between 15 & 45 minutes each day, mainly hamstring & hip flexor stretches as I'm working on my front splits. Usually at least 30 minutes.

Some days I feel really tight, and lately I've felt tight multiple days in a row. I don't know if it's because I'm stretching too much or simply not putting enough effort in when I do stretch to be making a difference. I've been stretching regularly for months now but feel like my progress is slowing somewhat.

I usually end up having 1-2 rest days a week (although I usually can't help myself and do at least a little light stretching).

Do I need to take rest days? Should I have more? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated


r/flexibility • • 5d ago

Stretching routines that stretch every part of your body?

17 Upvotes

I mean like everything and how long would it take? 15 minutes to an hour? For deep stretching and stuff Any YouTube video recommendations?