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Can you do the splits?

(96 Posts)
Riverwalk Mon 25-Jul-22 09:24:50

The Guardian has an interesting series 'A new start after 60' - this former hairdresser became a yoga teacher at 65.

Pretty impressive!

Yoga

BlueBelle Mon 25-Jul-22 16:37:12

I can’t do the splits but I can still do a full lotus ??‍♀️and touch my toes with straight legs

BlueBelle Mon 25-Jul-22 16:38:09

Yammy I have quite long legs

lemsip Mon 25-Jul-22 16:51:10

Riverwalk thought that was you for a minute!

Riverwalk Mon 25-Jul-22 17:25:48

Truth be told lemsip the likeness is remarkable, not!

Just looking at her position makes me want to cross my legs grin

Mamie Mon 25-Jul-22 17:35:49

Yes but not box splits like that. I can also only do it with my right leg in front and left behind, not the other way round.
Not bad for 72. ?

Lucca Mon 25-Jul-22 18:26:11

Who's she trying to impress

Not a very nice comment.

VioletSky Mon 25-Jul-22 18:32:52

I'm starting to wonder if I could make myself that flexible but I've recently injured myself in my sleep so it's not promising

JdotJ Wed 27-Jul-22 11:06:18

No

Alioop Wed 27-Jul-22 11:07:14

Nope. Looking at the picture made my eyes water.

Kryptonite Wed 27-Jul-22 11:09:25

Thank you for highlighting this series from the Guardian. A new start is just what I feel the need for too! My 95 year old mum has always been able to touch the floor without bending knees, and still can. ?

puffernutter Wed 27-Jul-22 11:13:56

Let me check on my BUPA membership first......

HazelGreen Wed 27-Jul-22 11:14:00

Please Yammy hold a bannister when on stairs! Or at least keep one hand free and 'hover'... The only nasty accident I had as a child was falling down from top of stairs when pulling up socks,... and colliding with the Hoover on bottom step. As an adult the only time I have broken a bone was from a fall when going down steps and misjudging step because I was carrying a tray in both hands and could not see that a mat had been moved out of position.

kittypaws49 Wed 27-Jul-22 11:19:43

No, can't do the splits, never could, or the lotus position. But I can easily touch my toes, even though I am short-waisted with long legs.

Minerva Wed 27-Jul-22 11:25:45

We are a very hypermobile family and I remember Mother telling us it was foolish to be forever demonstrating our funny joints. My son from babyhood would be doing odd things with his thumb while holding my hand and now I try to discourage the grandchildren from folding up their limbs like Houdini. I have ‘aggressive’ arthritis and though I can bend over and walk my hands flat on the ground I cannot stand up straight. To my knowledge none of us can do the splits though I remember trying 70 years ago.

Moggycuddler Wed 27-Jul-22 11:29:11

Absolutely not! Never in my life. But I have spinal problems and arthritis now.

Peaseblossom Wed 27-Jul-22 11:31:08

franbern my daughter has hypermobility. Causes her all sorts of problems, especially when recently pregnant. Problems with her pelvis and hips among other things. It didn’t help when she tripped over something on the pavement left by a utility company. She was carrying a lot of equipment for work and didn’t see it. She had to have two operations on her wrist and it was extremely painful.

SueEH Wed 27-Jul-22 11:34:58

Yup. My cousin and I both can at ages 62 and 60. Can also put my elbows on the floor with straight legs. Blame it all on a lot of gymnastics as child and then yoga and Pilates ever since smile

henetha Wed 27-Jul-22 11:42:15

I'm not even going to try. I think something vital might be split if I try.
But I do keep fit. Just finished a 12 week course of Strength and Balance classes.

lizzypopbottle Wed 27-Jul-22 11:45:02

If you can lift each leg out sideways, independently i.e. one at a time, to the horizontal (so I've heard) there's no reason not to be able to do the box splits (as in the OP photo). Our legs are not joined together. Apparently it's fear that stops people getting right down. ???

Nannapat1 Wed 27-Jul-22 11:46:36

Delighted that she can do this and I wish I still could. Having been hypermobile as a child and younger adult, I can no longer do all those 'party tricks' that I used to now that I have osteoarthritis in a number of joints.

HeavenLeigh Wed 27-Jul-22 11:50:05

No I can’t and don’t have any wish to

Annaram1 Wed 27-Jul-22 11:50:28

I used to do the splits as a girl. Now I'm 81 and disabled I don't want to try to do this. What's the point?

Honeysuckleberries Wed 27-Jul-22 11:51:32

Absolutely, with banana, chocolate sauce and pecans ?

Well someone had to say it!

LuckyFour Wed 27-Jul-22 11:55:04

Can't do the splits - never could!

JadeOlivia Wed 27-Jul-22 11:58:59

No, last time I was about 7.Doesn' t even look natural to me for a human being !