The Journey to Splits: A Guide for Flexible Individuals

How Long Would It Approximately Take for a Double-Jointed Naturally Flexible Person to Learn the Splits?

The journey to achieving the splits is individual and dependent on several factors, including age, consistency, and the natural flexibility level. Whether you're aiming for side, middle, or front splits, consistency and dedication are key, as is identifying what works best for your unique body.

Personal Experience and Insights

My personal journey with stretching began at the age of 30. Despite starting with a flexible base, it took me two years to achieve flat splits, regressing briefly before finally hitting the destination. This process involved trial and error as I self-learned what methods worked and which didn't. The most crucial advice I can offer is to be consistent and stretch daily, with at least one or two rest days to prevent burnout and injury. Stomping out those last few inches of discomfort can be challenging, and over-stretching can be a powerful strategy to achieve a more comfortable, flat split.

Professional Guidance for Optimal Results

I highly recommend enrolling in Alex Larson's course. His 30-day exercises are specifically designed to enhance flexibility and provide a structured approach to achieving your goals. With a money-back guarantee if the results don't materialize, this course is a reliable investment. The course explains in detail how to improve your flexibility through targeted exercises and stretches.

My Personal Milestones

My journey began my side splits around mid-March 2020, and I achieved my right side split by the end of October 2020. This progress was not consistent in the beginning, but from August, I committed to stretching at least 15 out of 30 days per month, which helped me achieve my goal. The left side split came 15 days later, in early November 2020. While hitting the splits is a significant achievement, the next step is ensuring a smooth and comfortable transition into splits without pain. In December 2020, I noticed that my side splits were complete, but my middle splits were still incomplete, with only a 2-inch gap remaining. This demonstrates that even with natural flexibility, the journey to complete splits may require additional targeted exercises.

Understanding Natural Flexibility

To be clear, being double-jointed or naturally flexible doesn't always mean natural flexibility in all joints. The pelvic and hip joint structures, along with the flexibility of the hip flexors and hamstrings, play crucial roles. For a double-jointed individual, it's important to recognize that flexibility may vary from one joint to another, and addressing each area separately is often necessary to achieve the desired flexibility.

General Flexibility Guidelines

If you're naturally more flexible than average, achieving the splits can be more achievable. The following is a general guideline for flexibility improvement based on age:

Below 10 years old: It might take 3-4 weeks. 11-15 years old: It might take 6 weeks. 15-20 years old: It might take 2 months or so. 20 years and above: The time may increase a little more with each age increment.

Remember, these are rough estimates and vary from person to person. Consistency, dedication, and a tailored approach to your individual needs are the keys to achieving your flexibility goals.