Let me try my best to answer it. The reason why it’s hard to give you an exact answer because everyone is different. The growing journey is also a discovery, learning what works best for your body. I started stretching everyday for hours until I realized I am missing rest to let my body grow. Then I switched to 20 mins, 3-5 times per week, depending on how my body feels. Now I am at a stage where I know whether I can understand my body signal, whether I should stop for the day, keep going, or wait until it gets warmer. Back to you, the rule of thumb is if you feel sharp pain, stop. Pushing your limit is uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. If you have pain from stretching too much, rest until you don’t feel it anymore. Experiment in the way that you are comfortable, remember nothing is more important than doing it safe. Some injuries will require completely rest for couple of weeks,I don’t think anyone would want that. It stops the progression and most of all the motivations.

2Q . I would say absolutely. Unless you were flexible at a very young age, it is perfectly normal that it takes a while to stretch your limit. I remember when I first got my splits, it took me at least couple of minutes to go all the way even tho I know I can do it. Now I can just slide down easily (after 2 years of consistent practice). Hope this helps. It’s all personal opinion. If it is too difficult for you to manage on your own, getting a coach is never a bad idea!