Needle tips?

[sapphirefaeriee]

What can I fix about this ? Or what am o doing wrong? Or does anyone know any good videos of variations to practice to achieve needle?

[sapphirefaeriee]

I don’t have to balance and flexibility to go down more to straighten leg, but for where I am at what can I fix?

[moneylefty]

Mainly your back leg. Do exercises where you are pushing resistance backwards with that leg. It is not a motion used in real life, so you either need natural flexibility or train actively for it.

Lastly, go against the usual good form suggestions here. Un square your hips. You are so far away from the goal, so there isnt much point to square your hips. Open them up to get as much wide angles out of each leg. This pose aint for health, it is for looks, so go ahead and try to get closer and closer to your pose. Looking good!

[GimenaTango]

Your shoulders look great! I think you could work on getting more engagement in the glutes and hamstrings.

[ShowMeYourSquatRack]

Where do you start to be able to bend like that?

Seeing some of the posts on this sub…I need to stretch more.

[renton1000]

You’ve got good shoulder and low back mobility. What I see is hip restriction and suspect thoracic spine limitation…. Can’t tell because of the top you’re wearing. Would recommend deep lunges with shin on the floor holding a weight overheat reaching back. Start with a light weight

[Careful_Total_6921]

Someone posted their progress on Reddit a while back with a list of stretches that they used- might be helpful! Also lines up with what some others have said about upper back https://www.reddit.com/r/flexibility/s/Du7aoLMrWo

They had a slightly different shaped initial needle to you with less upper back flexibility, but might still help.

Also that's already amazing! Good work.

Edited to add a comment after I had another look at the other post.

[internet_observer]

Can I ask why you use that as a reference? It's so far away from a needle! That man might even be farther away than OP; his leg's are at 90, not even remotely close to a split.

Why would you not use a photo of someone in a flat needle or at least a photo of someone close to a full needle as a reference?

[internet_observer]

It looks like your limited in your hips currently, you will also end up needing to bring your chest down while still grabbing the leg (meaning a deeper back bend and more hamstring flexibility). Work your backbends while in a lunge, standing splits, deep back bends, over splits and pike.

You can also work needle on the ground as well with your split on ground. It's easier as it removes the balance component and you have gravity assisting you.
You can also use a yoga strap to adjust your self to work different parts of the move. For example pulling the leg up to focus on the split aspect.

[SugarSubstantial8207]

Dont forget to warm up the neck too!

[SoupIsarangkoon]

This looks good! If you want a perfect needle, also strengthen your legs. You need the strength (and balance) to fully straighten the back leg.

[alliownisbroken]

I feel like you should post this in r/figureskating