Position:Home>Dancing> Stretching for dance class, i need help.?
Question: Stretching for dance class, i need help!.!?
So i read a lot about stretching on Yahoo Answers, and i was wanting some tips on it!.
The things i have problem with are splits and touching my toes without bending my legs!. also pretty much anything that requires like grabbing your ankles without bending your legs and those type of things!.
I heard that taking a bath with Epsom Salts like every other night could improve muscle flexibility!. Is this true!? Are there any other tips you can give me on general ways to help improve my stretching ability!?
I'm also trying to get into the right diet that's healthiest for my body!. If i am going to dance, im going to do it right and keep my mind/body in shape for it!. Any tips!?
I am a 15 year old male!. Just started dance last week and i love it, im in jazz!. Im also 6 foot or 6'1 and i weight 193 lbs!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Hey, Welcome to the world of dance :)
If you've only danced for a week, then really don't worry about not having your splits, it takes at least 3 months to safely obtain them!.
Tips to do this though are to stretch every day after warming up, doing this you'll see a small but obvious improvement from week to week!.
Im not sure about the Epson salts, but please don't just take a bath and presume your muscles are warmed up, so many people get injured doing this!.
A good site for you to look at would be dance!.net and then the stretching section!.
Good luck!
EDIT: NEVER strech without warming up!!
I almost passed out when I read that someones told you not to!. You need to warm up so that the blood carries enough oxygen to your mucsles so they can strech!. You can rip them if you don't =[Www@QuestionHome@Com
If you just started dance sweetie, it takes a while to become FLEXIBLE!. Don't get dicouraged, keep working @ it, & you'll love it even more!. I have been taking, tap, jazz & ballet, since I was 6 yrs old!. Ballet is really a requirement for any great dancer!. Get @ least one year of that in!. That helps w/ all flexibility!. And tap dancing is the most incredible dance you'll ever know! It's not hard, & knowing how to do it, is such a fantastic feeling!. That teaches you creativity in all dances!. Keep it up! Www@QuestionHome@Com
Ok right, I am 15 as well and I live to dance!. Take my advice on stretching, I am a contortionist!. Basically what u have to do is take a hot bath and when you get out your muscles will be relaxed, do all your stretching then!. Stretch yourself untill it hurts then go a tiny bit further and hold for 30 seconds!. The next day go a bit further and eventually u will b like elastic! (like I am wooooo!)Www@QuestionHome@Com
Epsom Salts will NOT make you flexible Www@QuestionHome@Com
Hi!. I danced for about 9 years and personally I never warmed up before stretching, I just started out my routine without pushing my self too much until I got limbered up and then I would push a little harder toward the end!. Make sure when you're sitting in or trying to sit in your splits (this is for right or left splits) that your knee is face down to the floor, not twisted sideways at all because then you're kind of cheating and won't get the maximum stretch!. also make sure to keep your back straight enough to set a cup on it (my coach literally did this and it helped me so much) when you're sitting and leaning to grab your ankles!. also lay on your back and begin by holding your knee close to you and then stretching it straight up, then slowly turning your hip and leg out to the side of you (you can hold it if you need to)!. One of my technique teachers used to be on broadway and he said that this was a sure-fire way to get your splits!. Good luck and I hope you love it!Www@QuestionHome@Com
determination is key!. it took me about a year to get my splits and all my extensions fully up!. youve only been dancing a week!. here is the workout/ conditioning/ stretching routine i follow:
every morning; 120 crunches, 20 puch ups 9this helps core strength which is very helpful for dance!.!.!.!. flexibility is nothing if you cant hold urself in those extensions)
mon, wed, fri evenings: stretch for 30 minutes - lunges on both legs, touch toes, straddle sits, ect!. then do splits 3 times each leg and hold for about 1/2 a min!. i am comfortably to the floor (have been for a while) so i always pput my head down to the floor and just kinda lay there!. also do some high kicks and leg stretches
tues, thurs, sat evenings: cardio/ staminaWww@QuestionHome@Com