Creaky & nearly 40- what should I do/spend on?

[duriandurian]

I want to be flexible- but how? Intensive week long course or a year of yoga PT every fortnight/month or several classes a week? Or a video of stretches every day?
Please help me decide how to spend my birthday money!
I am a regular exerciser and reasonably fit: 2 x bootcamp circuits, 1 xkettle bell class, 1 x bodypump, 1 x hour run, 1 x yin yoga. I have exercise regularly since early 20s.
40 next month and was going to splash out on skin resurfacing.
But I always ache when I wake (despite having a mega ££ bed and propping myself with cushions), I can't touch my toes. I attended pilates for two years after DC2 and tried hard but never progressed beyond beginner (people usually promoted after six months).
I am BMI 22/23. Could do with losing chunky thighs but generally okay shape.
My Ma says it is because I never crawled but only walked.
My Physio noticed that my dad and my DD also have similar inflexibility- tho' I send her to Gymnastics twice weekly and am signing her up for weekly yoga.

Any suggestions gratefully received, I am worried it will only worsen as I age. Thank you!

Be kind to yourself. I think you sound in great shape. Isn’t it inevitable that as we age our bodies can show some wear and tear?
I know so many folk who were very sporty, ran marathons and have had to have hip/knee replacements and suffer from arthritis; one even walks with sticks because of the running.
What worked for me, when I was really inflexible, was doing yoga stretches every day. I had been attending a weekly 2hour Iyengar yoga class as well to get me started. I had to use the belts and blocks because I was so stiff but it really improved my flexibility which even though I don’t attend any classes and do not stretch every day, has stayed with me. I have to do some stretches periodically though when I have a sore neck.
I’m in my early 40s and every morning I creak out of bed, but give it 10mins and my body adjusts.

Thank you. So daily stretching helped? I also wondered about sports massages- I always feel better after, if not during.
I am belt and block queen at yoga class! Just had pilates on holiday with a Physio and he really gave me a talking yo about how stiff I was so I was a bit panicked I was heading for disaster. I am deliberately limiting myself to one run a week on soft surfaces to protect my knees and ankles.
Thank you.

Yes daily stretching definitely helped; staying in yoga pose for long as you can comfortably (obviously within reason) and trying to increase the stretch when comfortable to do so (holding belt shorter, just one less block this time; I was really inflexible! Probably would need them again though for certain poses.) Eventually I’m sure you’ll see a difference.
Not my thing but I’ve heard sports massage really helping some folk so maybe try that too.

I was feeling the same (43yrs). I put DS into taekwon-do classes when he was 4. It looked like so much fun that I started a couple of years later. I wasn't in bad shape by any means prior but now regaining the lost flexibility of youth, increasing core strength etc.

Feel good.

Hmmm DS does have a v fit (and v young) Taekwondo instructor. But I worry I would fall down and crack. Maybe after a year of stretching, squatting and sun salutations daily- met a yoga teacher in the river (am on hols atm) and she said they are transformational

I would guess that you are not stretching enough or not stretching correctly after exercise. You can get away with it when you are young but as you get older you feel the affects

What has worked for me us using a roller on the problem muscles before stretching them.

A physio will be able to advise exactly where the stiffness is coming from.

Hmm so maybe a sports massage regularly and a Physio appointment regularly could make more sense than a PT. And a couple of rollers. And making sure I spend plenty of time stretching. Thank you!

I'm not quite nearly 40, but seemed to be built clunky according to my osteopath (started going there to fix the persistant SPD damage after DC 5 years ago). I do feel better for a monthly maul and MOT. I seem to have naturally tight muscles that are reluctant to losen up and relax. I've never had much natural flexibility.

Yoga does help. I love the thought of doing some each morning but feel too stiff to face it. Lord help me for the next 40-50 years 😂