I need to limber up!?

Question:I used to be so limber and active, now I sit at a desk all day. I'm only 23, but I'm starting to feel old and stiff! Does anyone have any useful stretches I can do to regain flexibility? I danced and did gymnastics all through highschool, there's no way I could even come CLOSE to doing those things again right now! Any help would be appreciated!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I used to be so limber and active, now I sit at a desk all day. I'm only 23, but I'm starting to feel old and stiff! Does anyone have any useful stretches I can do to regain flexibility? I danced and did gymnastics all through highschool, there's no way I could even come CLOSE to doing those things again right now! Any help would be appreciated!

I will tell you what I did and it totally worked! Every day (you HAVE to do this every day) i stretched. First I stretched out my right side (the side that I am more flexible on) like you did in gymnastics class. You have to remember to breath and sink into the stretch. Muscles do not begin to fully stretch for 20 seconds so you must hold each stretch for at least 30 (I usually hold them for around a minute, going off of how my body feels-- when it feels stretched). After my body feels properly warmed up I set a timer for 55 seconds (allowing 10 seconds to get positioned into my right split). Since you aren't all the way down, the key it to keep both legs straight-- even if you feel that it is making you higher off the ground. Repeat this process on the left. Now for your middle split. Open your legs into a straddle as far as you can and reach forward. Keep your back straight--- don't curl so you can get farther off the ground. Hold this for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes for the muscles to become adjusted to the stretch) until you feel stretched. With each exhale (you MUST remember to breath deep, long breaths) reach slightly farther further. Key tips are to keep your feet flexed and faced upwards-- even though you may get farther down with your feed forward and pointed. Once you feel that you have done this for long enough find a wall space that is flat and wide enough for you legs. Put your butt up against the wall, with your legs straight and upwards. Then open your legs as far as they can with your butt still against the wall, your knees/legs straight and your feet flexed (flexed feet with stretch more parts of your legs than pointed feet). Breath deeply and set a timer for 3 minutes and 10 seconds (the ten seconds are extra time to allow you to get into position). After the 3 minutes are over close your legs (getting back to your original position) and push away from the wall. Now do your middle split for 45 seconds (set the timer for 55 like you did for your right and left splits). Make sure you aren't falling back too far (although it makes you feel farther down). Breath deeply even though it hurts using the exhale to go further down technique. I usually watch TV during my stretches to distract me from the pain. Hope this helps-- if you have any questions email me!

yoga!

Yoga, Pilates, or bodyweight exercises will keep you limber and fit.

maybe try some adult dance classes. nothing too advanced seeing as you say that you probably can't do that stuff you used to. if dancing is what got you limber in the first place it would make sense to try it again. if you have no interest in dancing again something like yoga or just standard stretches will work too.

Yoga and pilates are both good ideas.