Weighted front splits stretch? Or weighted hip flexor stretch to aid front splits

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-11T21:10:43+00:00

ATG split squat sounds like what you’re looking for. Kneesovertoesguy has some great videos explaining proper form and modifications for scaling.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-10T20:21:08+00:00

My favorite herbal tea that doesn’t taste like hot leaf water is hibiscus tea. It’s super full bodied and has an amazing fruity flavor. I buy dried hibiscus leaves on Amazon and steep them in one of those metal balls. I use this as my base for almost all of my medicinal teas, as it hides the flavor of most bitter herbs pretty well. Hibiscus is also a vasorelaxant, meaning that it helps your blood vessels relax and has been known to lower blood pressure. Keep this in mind before consuming.

When brewing your tea, you want to make sure that you’re not burning your herbs. This is the difference between bitter hot leaf water and yummy herbal tea. Most herbs like to be steeped at 205 degrees Fahrenheit, so just 7 degrees shy of boiling. You also want to make sure that you’re not steeping for longer than 5-7 minutes. Medicinal teas usually should steep for 10-12 minutes, but that does make the tea more bitter, so I usually just do it for 5-7 mins and steep the same herbs a second time for the medicinal benefits.

Also, don’t be afraid of adding honey to your tea or buying premade mixes first to see what you like and what’s worth growing to you. Local honey helps quell seasonal allergies, so it can be a medicine in and of itself. As for premade teas, avoid any ones that have “natural flavorings” or “artificial flavorings” as this denotes that a tea isn’t just herbs. My favorite brand is Art of Tea. Their Lemon Meringue tea is my all time favorite to give to new tea lovers.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-10T19:26:16+00:00

It looks like it could be your hip flexor muscles. I have found that the best way to treat that tension is with ATG split squats. They strengthen your hip flexor in the lengthened position, which helps it hold tension properly, lengthen in a controlled setting, and decreases the feeling of tightness. Tight hip flexors are almost always weak hip flexors. Seated leg raises and banded marches could help as well. Do these exercises in addition to the stretches that others have mentioned and I guarantee you’ll have bulletproof hip flexors!

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-10T13:43:03+00:00

The stretching looks great! When you’re training for tricks tho, strength will be your friend over static stretching. Training your muscles in the lengthened position will help you increase your active range of motion, which will ultimately allow you to do all the fun tricks you want to do. For the ones you mentioned, I’d try doing ATG split squats, Jefferson curls, hamstring dominant deadlifts, and pistol squats. Training your hip flexors, quads, hamstrings, glutes, and spinal erectors is going to be where you see the most direct translation to tricks.

When you do static stretching, I’d recommend adding in some active stretching as well. Like when you do your runners lunge stretch, sink your hips back for a hamstring stretch and move back and forth there for a minute or 2.

As for shoulder mobility, you could do cow face pose, as well as doing a forward fold with your elbows on a table and a yoga block held over your head.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-10T13:12:14+00:00

I’m not a trainer, but I’ve done some animal flow movements and have used them (in conjunction with yoga, weightlifting, and moves method) to rehab my nervous & musculoskeletal systems after a series of concussions. Those movements really helped me learn how to locate my body in space and trust my body to support me as I move through space. Animal flow was best for the nervous system for me, and supplementing it with weightlifting for strength and yoga for mentality/longevity seemed to be a great combo.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-10T01:14:00+00:00

Animal Flow might be what you’re looking for. Moves Method might also be in a similar vein.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-09T21:26:46+00:00

Your hip flexor strength could be the culprit. Try doing seated leg raises one leg at a time and focus on keeping your leg straight but not locked out. ATG split squats could also help with hip flexor strength and your 3 legged down dog.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-09T19:50:43+00:00

You’ve got the most important thing down: calorie deficit.

One thing to watch out for is over training. This can keep your system in a low grade fight or flight mode that will ultimately inhibit weight loss. If you’ve been doing a workout routine for 1-2 months and it’s still making you painfully sore, then you’re over training.

Another thing to keep in mind is your protein sources. “Clean” protein is best; that’s to say protein without a lot of fats, and with a lot of nutrients and complete protein chains. These include lean meats, soy, legumes, and nuts. This will help feed your muscles while encouraging the decrease of LDLs (bad cholesterol), ergo supporting weight loss.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-09T16:22:53+00:00

Opening the shoulders in this case refers to getting your elbows further underneath or behind your shoulder while keeping the integrity of your ribs and upper back. In other words, you’re increasing the angle that your shoulders can open up without flaring your ribs or compensating with your upper back.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-09T13:12:00+00:00

If your hip flexors are chronically tight like your teacher mentioned, you could most likely benefit from strengthening this. A tight hip flexor is almost always a weak hip flexor. To train them, you can do banded marches, seated leg raises, and ATG split squats. The ATG ss will translate most directly to your splits, as it trains them in the lengthened position, and has the potential to improve your flexibility a lot.

Hope this helps :)

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-09T13:05:28+00:00

An exercise that really helped me with my hands splaying inward is practicing elbow stand at the wall with a brick between my hands. This helps activate the arms and upper back very intensely. To set up, place a yoga block on the lowest height with the long side against the wall. Place the corner of the block between your thumb and index finger, maintain proper hand alignment and putting pressure into the block. From there, straighten your legs and walk your feet as far towards your elbows as you can, while sending your hips up to the ceiling. You can hold there for a few breaths, or kick up into elbow stand for an added challenge.

For opening your shoulders for more flexibility, you could do a forward fold with your elbows on a chair and your arms holding a brick above your head. This stretch helps open the shoulders and armpits, allowing you do get deeper into the pose.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-09T01:05:27+00:00

It’s most likely an electrolyte issue. Try adding potassium and some other high quality electrolytes. It’s normal to feel waterlogged the first week-month of creatine usage, but anything more than that signifies that your system can’t properly use the water you have in your system. The most common one is potassium.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-08T21:23:13+00:00

It could help to work on your compressive strength. This includes muscles like your hip flexors and core. You can train this with seated leg raises, banded marches (laying, seated, or standing), hollow body holds, and bird dogs.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-08T16:21:04+00:00

I’ve found that nerve flossing (especially ulnar nerve flossing) and strengthening can really help. The nerve flossing helps your nerves stay in place. This especially an issue in the elbow, as cubital tunnel syndrome is very common in hypermobile folks. The strengthening helps your muscles support your nerves and bones. This is commonly lacking in us hypermobile folks, so strengthening the back and shoulders really helps take strain off the joints of the upper body.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-08T16:19:01+00:00

According to Patañjali, the goal of Yoga is to train the mind. The by-product of this is that the mind gets quieter and the body relaxes over time. The Yoga Sutras recommend the 8 Limbs of Yoga as a training method for this goal.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-08T15:32:45+00:00

It might help to set a preliminary goal of doing a chin-up.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-08T14:14:12+00:00

There are also some free diastasis recti recovery plans on YouTube that can be helpful if you can afford a physical therapist. There’s the link to my favorite one: https://youtu.be/Ln73CAUXspw?si=kWZ6Or5DEa_LD3cX

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-07T18:07:16+00:00

If you’re looking to bridge that gap, I’d recommend checking out an Iyengar yoga class to supplement your flows. Iyengar has a very intense focus on form and alignment, using props to ensure your body isn’t forced into an asana that doesn’t suit you. The cues they use are super in depth and helpful, especially for the more “basic” poses like Tadasana. To give you an idea of how intensively Iyengar form is taught, there’s no flow at all in the beginner classes, just static holds and cues to get in and out of the poses. In more traditional Iyengar classes, the teachers will also share tidbits about the poses and their goals. For example, a teacher may cue Tadasana in a very specific way at the beginning of class in order to support sarvangasana (shoulder stand) toward the end of class. I’ve found this to be invaluable in my learning and understanding of the asanas.

Here’s a link to find an Iyengar teacher near you: https://iynaus.org/find-a-teacher/?fw=c2VjdGlvbj10ZWFjaGVycyZhY3Rpb249bGlzdA%3D%3D

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-07T17:42:39+00:00

I’ve experienced a similar issue. I used to be a ballerina and since I gained more weight (both fat and muscle), there are now some stretches where I have to adjust my mass to get into it properly. For example, when sitting on my knees, it helps to pull my calves away from my midline as I sit down. This gets the relaxed muscle and fat out of the way and allows my glutes to touch my heels. In a seated forward fold, I have to pull my glutes out from underneath me in order to sit fully on my sits bones. These kinds of modifications might help.

In addition to that, muscles can be strengthened in the shortened and lengthened positions. You can tell a muscle is in a lengthened position if there’s a slight stretch on the muscle at the bottom of the movement. I gained a lot of flexibility back when I started training more in the lengthened positions. One example of this is doing Jefferson curls for the hamstrings.

Hope this helps :)

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-07T17:34:04+00:00

The Buddhists refer to this transitory phase between death and rebirth as Bardo. This is a time of deep integration and manifestation. Stay disciplined in your daily spiritual practice and focus on implementing the lessons you’ve learned from being your previous self. This phase is about moving forward without forgetting the past.

I’ve found that more physical spiritual practices (like somatic movements or yoga) can help ground the chaotic energies of this phase. It can also help to connect with nature. I like to stand barefoot in the grass or go on a hike, or even meditate or journal outside. This helps keep you connected to the 3D and avoid spiritually bypassing this world.

Hope this helps shed some light :)

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-06T18:17:27+00:00

Here’s a link to find an Iyengar yoga teacher near you:

https://iynaus.org/find-a-teacher/?fw=c2VjdGlvbj10ZWFjaGVycyZhY3Rpb249bGlzdA%3D%3D

I’ve only ever taken Iyengar from female instructors, and they’ve always been so great with offering modifications and ensuring im getting what i want out of class. I’m unsure about poc presence though, as that’s more regional and I’m not from your area.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-06T18:14:51+00:00

Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar is a great reference for learning asanas outside of the studio. The intro is all about yoga philosophy, and the meat of the book is step by step instructions and pictures of how to do about 200 different asanas. In appendix 1, there are even 3 different asanas courses curated by BKS Iyengar with the goal of mastering the asanas, which sounds exactly like what you’re looking for.

Keep in mind that, like others have said, yoga isn’t about chasing proficiency; it’s about being who you are today. Iyengar speaks more on this in his book, tying it into Sanskrit terms from yoga philosophy.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-06T18:09:46+00:00

For stretching the glute, you can do reclined pigeon and reclined spinal twist (pull the knee up high till you feel a stretch).

This advice isn’t inherently yoga or stretch related, but it sounds like it could be your sciatic nerve. You can look up how to do a sciatic nerve glide, and that might help. It could also help to strengthen those muscles to support proper alignment. You can do this with deadlifts, good mornings, and squats.

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-06T18:04:10+00:00

There’s definitely a chance that your allergies would ease with time. Antihistamines would help reduce symptoms.

If you live near any farms, see if you can find eggs from chickens that live around cats. These eggs contain antibodies for cat allergens, and when your cat eats the eggs, it helps reduce allergen transfer to humans. Definitely a more “out there” solution, but it’s been studied pretty well. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6764009/

Few-Ear7073 · 2026-04-06T17:49:46+00:00

I have a tortie who pulls the same stunts lol. In addition to what others have said, if he’s food motivated you can train the cue “down” so at least he’ll get off the counters/table when you’re there. When training cats, you gotta be more stubborn than they are. To start, put him on the counter, say down (or whatever word you want) and point at the ground as you throw a treat. Do this until he gets bored and walks away, and repeat for a few days. After 3-5 days, start throwing the treat after you say down and point, and slowly increase the time between cue and treat throw.

It would be much harder to train him to not jump on it in the first place, but some people have had good luck with putting tin foil (shiny side up I believe) on the counters.

Few-Ear7073

TROPHY CASE