How to get more flexible

[GypsieQueen]

Hi, I have always been incredibly inflexible. I don't think I've ever been able to touch my toes, even as a child. I would love to be a lot more flexible, be able to really stretch, touch the floor with my hands etc. I wondered if anyone could recommend a DVD to help improve flexibility?

Thank you

I can't recommend a video as I attend classes, but you will see a difference if you give it time.
My yoga teacher believes in 'sweet discomfort', ie pushing yourself, but never to the point of actual pain.

Thank you mineof. I did try several yoga sessions a few years ago. Unfortunately because I was so inflexible, I found it very uncomfortable and just couldn't really do the moves. I'd like to start doing yoga again. I'm not able to join a class as I'm a single mum to a toddler and don't have any babysitters, but eventually, I'd like to do yoga using a DVD. I'd just like to gain more flexibility first. I think I know what you mean by sweet discomfort. I'd just love a DVD with the moves that I can follow in order to become more flexible.

I have a subscription to a website called EkhartYoga. There's loads and loads of videos with new ones everyday, programs for beginners etc.
Way more interesting than a DVD.

There's also loads on YouTube.

Type in beginners yoga into YouTube and there will be loads of different sessions. Yoga with Adrianne is good.

I think the important thing is doing it consistently. I have been doing yoga for about 12 years and can see a massive difference in my flexibility, however I do it 3-5 times a week. It's not a quick fix.

I have an app called Cody, you can buy courses of yoga within the app, some of them are for real beginners and fantastic, Dana Falsetti and Jessamyn Stanley are brilliant and they have programs specifically for flexibility.

I like Kassandra on YouTube has some lovely Yin Yoga video, I find Yin practice has really increased my flexibility, it's slow yoga focusing on stretching connective tissues and opening up joints. Wheras more active practices like vinyasa/power yoga etc have been better for strength for me.

30 days of yoga with Adrienne on You Tube is a great way to get into it. Each session is about 20 mins and she's brilliant at easing you along. It really does help to do it on a daily basis rather than once or twice a week.

I recommend Adrienne and Gaia yoga and Eckhart yoga. Gaia and echart have trial subscriptions to get you started.

Another vote for Yoga with Adrienne, much better than a DVD because there's loads of different videos to choose from. If you are a beginner I'd recommend working through her beginner videos and probably some of the foundations of yoga series as well. You need to do it regularly, better to do 30 mins three times a week than an hour and a half once a week.

I think the 30 days series are great but are probably quite tricky if you are really inflexible. It's difficult to judge though because the more you practice yoga the more you learn so I've redone videos and found them harder the second time! If you do decide to go for it then I think Yoga Camp is more mindful than 30 days and Revolution is the most challenging. IMHO. There will be a new 30 series in January as well no doubt so you'll have that to look forward to as well.

I think is important to understand where is the inflexibility. For instance my hamstrings are tight (I haven't done any yoga for ages) but my sacroiliac joint is fairly flexible. Only doing yoga I learned to understand which one's which.

Another for ekhart and adrienne.

Also I love yin yoga videos for flexibility. I find that if I practise straight from gym I have alot more room for manoeuvre.

That's a really good point antimatter. There's a really good book called "yoga anatomy" if anyone wants to get geeky about it - it has pictures showing internal anatomy which show how the different asana move different parts of the body. I find it very interesting!

Everyone's flexibility will be different op - and even different on different days - it's not really fixed so doing any kind of yoga will help your whole body.

It's important not to judge your flexibility against anyone else - or even your yoga standard against anyone else.

Just pick a cd that appeals to you.

Thanks serendipity for your recommendation, I am going to order it 😎

I think it takes time to stretch, I think 2-3 months if you never done much of such exercises. I'd recommend finding beginners yoga class. The investment would pay in understanding your body and yoga terminology better.