Taking your flexibility All the way from beginner, to advanced.
Beginning your flexibility journey? Chances are, you were initially inspired by a pro. Someone you follow online, a performer you saw, or a friend who can really bring the bend. Inspiration is everywhere! While looking up to these advanced flexers can be a wonderful spark to get us going, it can be hard to imagine how you’ll one day get there, especially if you’re still sitting at square one.
Mapping the journey from beginner to advanced is helpful not only as a roadmap for our training, but also to keep us from getting discouraged by the seemingly impossible road ahead.
Before we get into it, it’s important to remember that your fullest expression of a movement, no matter how much training you do, will probably look different from someone else’s. When we say ‘beginner’ to ‘advanced’ we are speaking about your own personal levels of confidence in flexibility training and the fullest expression of the range of motion available to you.
With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s dive into the step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Nail the Form
This is a flexibility non-negotiable! In order to avoid injury and prime yourself for deeper stretches, you need to establish great form. To do so, work on your mind-muscle connection, and get better at differentiating pain from discomfort. Having guidance during this introductory phase can be super helpful. This is why Flex Fundamentals, our month-long flexibility basics program, is an amazing launchpad for beginners. There’s no guesswork involved, and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Step 2: Set Goals and Develop a Routine
Once you’re comfortable with the basics of flexibility, it’s time to figure out what you want out of it. This might mean feeling less tension in your body overall, or a specific goal like a backbend, or the splits. Now plan your schedule! It’s important to be realistic here. The best routine isn’t a perfect one, but one that is sustainable. It can be helpful during this phase to team up with an accountability partner, be it a friend, or a community of fellow flexers! One of the best ways to achieve our goals is to share them with others.
Step 3: Incorporate Strength and Duration
Now that you’re super confident in your form, and have established a solid routine, it’s time to up the difficulty! This will provide you with the extra push necessary to get to that next level of depth in your stretches, and will allow you to strength train in a wider plane of motion. It’s important to wait until you’ve gotten comfortable with form and flexibility before adding weight. Things like dumbbells and repetitive movements will only compound injuries caused by improper form!
Step 4: Get Jazzy with it!
Finally, you’re ready for those advanced flexibility feats. You now have the form, depth, strength, and balance to learn things like holds, high kicks and funky flows. Don’t be afraid to play around with your routine. As we advance, one of our biggest hurdles can be boredom. Try new things, and remember, you’re never too advanced to go back and refresh on your basics!
Ready to set off on the right foot, or circle back to brush-up on your form? Join the waitlist for Flex Fundamentals.