We all have our flexibility goals. Maybe it’s getting your splits or achieving a beautiful backbend. Regardless of those goals, being overall more flexible will also help with all the impressive moves that we find ourselves in on the pole. Here are some tips to help you in your flexibility journey...
Keep Hydrated!
Your muscles are over 70% water. Keep hydrated to keep your muscles ready to extend and contract in the way that they are intended.
Listen to your body and don’t push too hard.
The mentality of “No pain, No gain” won’t work to increase your flexibility. You want to listen to your body and feel a productive stretch rather than pain. You want to work with your body’s nervous system to ease into stretches, so that the muscles can relax instead of tense up to protect themselves.
Strengthen your muscles.
Many work just on passive flexibility, which uses an external force to help you get into a position (think splits on the floor, where the floor is forcing you deeper). This is not enough! Strengthen your muscles so you can achieve those flexibility goals actively. Not only do you want your splits on the ground, but you want to have beautiful splits in the air while on the pole!
Be consistent!
Stretching once in a while will not improve your flexibility. Try to incorporate movement and stretching into every day to maintain flexibility, even if it’s a couple mins here and there. Set aside dedicated time each week to work on improving your flexibility. There is no magic formula, so experiment with what your body needs to see improvement.
Get help to reach your flexibility goals!
You don’t have to do it alone!
UV has workshops and classes to help you take your flexibility further!
6 week Flexibility Workshop Sundays 3pm starting October 18th (This Sunday!)
Join in this virtual, intensive workshop on Sunday afternoons to improve flexibility, mobility, agility and overall muscle health! This workshop includes a progress report so you can track your gains and work on your trouble areas when you aren't in class.
Check out these weekly classes that focus on Flexibility!
Upper Body Flexibility Mondays 3:00pm
Strength and Flexibility Tuesdays 4:00pm
Stretchy Splits Tuesdays 7:15pm
Active Flexi for Dancers Thursdays 4:45pm
Flexibility Saturdays 11:30am