Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can you do the splits?

57 replies

SunshineOverStress · 03/04/2020 23:32

Very random I know, but can you do the splits? If so, how long did it take you and how often do you stretch now?

I want to be able to do them and have been daily stretching for a week so far, I’m 28 so don’t know if age will have a role to play or not!

OP posts:
RonnieBarkingMad · 03/04/2020 23:35

What an odd thread.

No I can’t.

You could try looking up gymnastic and stretching videos on YouTube, especially given the time we are in, and listen to tips from experts.

May I ask though, what will be achieved by you being able to do the splits (apart from the splits obviously lol). Why is this an ambition?

Giffgaff99 · 03/04/2020 23:37

I've always wanted to be able to do the splits- currently stretching as much as I can to get there

AhoyMrBeaver · 03/04/2020 23:38

Christ, no. I couldn't when I was a kid, so I'd end up in traction if I attempted it now.

Do you want to do it as part of a dance routine or something?

MissMarks · 03/04/2020 23:38

No I can’t. My daughter is a gymnast- it takes ages and you have to keep it up or you lose the ability to do them.

TeddyIsaHe · 03/04/2020 23:39

Absolutely not. That way lies joints out of sockets and days hobbling around. I learnt my lesson from the standing up with no hands fiasco.

AmelieTaylor · 03/04/2020 23:39

Yes

I can split bananas
I can split peas
I can split hairs...

Legs, not for many years now - but I could when I was your age.

PickAChew · 03/04/2020 23:41

Despite being hypermobile, can't and never could.

ZoeandChandon · 03/04/2020 23:42

I have always been able to do them, I didn’t train to do it or do gymnastics. Just naturally bendy. I have done yoga every week for the last 25 years but not as bendy as I used to be and have a lot of pain from arthritis in my hips. I sometimes wonder wether the two things are related (flexible hips and arthritis I mean)

SpillTheTeaa · 03/04/2020 23:42

No I can't and then only time I did I was drunk and thought I'd ripped my vagina in half

mingham · 03/04/2020 23:43

I can :) Started stretching when I took up pole 5 years ago, was over 30, couldn't touch my toes when I started, took about 6 months to get down into them on one side, doing 1 hour of targeted leg stretch a week. Worth the effort for the difference it makes to pole not sure I would have put the work in if it was just for the hell of it though.

Cherrysoup · 03/04/2020 23:55

Not far off, I’m 50, always been able to do them. Currently, I can’t get right down, but it wouldn’t take long to stretch. Just be careful not to push too soon, you don’t want to yank anything in the current climate!

DieSchottin93 · 03/04/2020 23:58

I used to be able to about 15 years ago when I did ballet regularly. Now I definitely can't Grin Yoga stretches can help if you want to work towards the splits.

EasyTarget · 03/04/2020 23:59

I was able to do them if I put each foot on a chair and could go down to make a v shape. Could never do it fully on the floor though.
Can't do it at all now.

Notimeforaname · 04/04/2020 00:00

Always been able to do them. Another bendy kid.
Am now a choreographer and fitness instructor.
Keep stretching, daily if possible, going a little further each time.
Should take a good 6-8 weeks if you stick to it. Make sure you're thoroughly warmed up first. A pulled groin is torment. 😩

AngeloMysterioso · 04/04/2020 00:00

I can get pretty close. Flexibility is the easiest thing to work on. If you do something like cycling regularly you won’t be able to as that sort of exercise makes your muscles really boxy, but any activity that makes you stretch like gymnastics, yoga, dance, barre fitness, climbing etc will help you limber up. I used to cycle to work and lost my splits for ages, a few months of climbing and I was almost back to a flat 180.

Notimeforaname · 04/04/2020 00:01

Oh and side splits will be quicker to get into than box splits. So aim for that first. Good luck

Ledkr · 04/04/2020 00:03

I can and I'm 53. I was a dancer and seem to have kept my flexibility

MissMarks · 04/04/2020 00:13

Six to eight weeks is optimistic

emmetgirl · 04/04/2020 00:23

Yes and I'm 53. Always been able to. I've got joint hypermobility so it's not a good thing!

Haggisfish · 04/04/2020 00:30

No and I’m so envious of those that cannot even could!Grin

thequeenbeyondthewall · 04/04/2020 00:31

Fuck no

AlunWynsKnee · 04/04/2020 00:32

No. I'm nearly 50 but I couldn't do it when I was 15.

pigsDOfly · 04/04/2020 00:35

No never could.

At 71 I'm not going to start trying to now. Although I'm still pretty flexible, that's a bridge too far.

dancinfeet · 04/04/2020 00:40

Yes, but it's because I teach dance so regularly do stretching and flexibility classes with my students. Even so, am not as flexible as I used to be and can only do them on one side now, not on both as I used to be able to (age 42).

ArriettyJones · 04/04/2020 00:41

Doubt it (and I’m wearing an 8 year old pair of dodgy harem trousers so I’m not trying it ATM Smile)