Flexibility

If you're like me then you know how hard it is to get more flexible. Naturally not being a very flexible person, seeing those double-jointed girls pulling their legs up above their heads and beyond can make dance class kind of stressful for you. As you, knowing how important flexibility is, wants to be able to do that too. But have no fear, everyone can increase their flexibility.

Flexibility is very important in dance. It provides a wider range of styles that can be used and allows the dancer to accomplish higher and more advanced skills or tricks. It also creates more fluid motions that may be required for certain styles or dances. Flexibility also reduces the risk of injury and provides a better range of motion for the dancer.

Flexibility can be accomplished by stretching often and correctly. You're not going to get any more flexible unless you make the effort to get more flexible. Set a time aside to work on your flexibility or other skill that you need to get better at. We all say we'll do our splits while we watch TV or something, but how often does that actually happen. Setting a time aside will help in your effort to stay accountable for stretching on your own. Also, having someone else keep you accountable for your stretching is good too, it provides an outside force to get you to do you're stretches.

Stretching correctly is very important too. Don't ever force a stretch, you'll end up pulling a muscle or hurting yourself in some way. I've pulled a muscle in my leg before, doing the splits, and it took about two weeks for me to do a decent toe-touch again. It's not worth it to force you're body to extremes because most of the time it doesn't work out.  Make sure to stretch before and after you work out. Stretching before will prevent you from injuring yourself during your workout and stretching after will help in your effort to become more flexible. Stretching after your workout will help you become more flexible because your muscles will already be warmed up and will actually make the stretches count. Remember to actually relax into your stretches, this will help you get a better and deeper stretch. Do the stretch correctly too. Stretching the wrong way will not help you at all and will ultimately hurt you. You'll train yourself to do the stretch incorrectly and won't make any progress on your flexibility at all.

So remember to stretch often and correctly. set a time aside or have someone hold you accountable. Stretch before and after your work out and don't ever force a stretch. With a little time and effort, you'll be able to get those splits down and lift those legs up high. Little by little you're increase your flexibility.
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