How to Do The Splits
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If you’re working on the full splits and you’re not really making progress, this guide is for you. While flexibility gains can last for years, they are often negatively affected by repetitive stress sports, or weightlifting. That’s exactly what happened to me when I started running recently – my splits form went backwards. Thankfully, I quickly returned to my old training protocol and the splits came back fast. I’ll share my preferred practice with you here.
When you do the splits your nervous system sends signals to your legs to fight the stretch – worried that you will overstretch and get injured. Here, I’ll share a deep stretching technique and a breathing practice to help you override that muscular response and improve your splits form.
Anatomy of the Splits
The splits are a compound stretch, meaning you have multiple big muscle groups involved at the same time, including your hamstrings and hip flexors.
Inside your muscle bellies, there are sensory organs called muscle spindles that sense the speed and depth of a stretch. When they sense potential danger, these spindles send a signal to your spinal cord and your nervous system responds by contracting your muscles. This is your body’s myotatic stretch reflex at work, and it’s extremely forceful during the full splits.
Below, you’ll find an advanced stretching technique which involves contracting and relaxing the muscles, as well as a breathing technique that will help to dampen your body’s myotatic reflex.
Breathe to Relax
To turn off the myotatic stretch reflex response inside your muscles, inhale through your nose for 1-2-3-4, and then exhale with a “ha” sound through your mouth for 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. This slow, resonant breath with a prolonged exhale stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system and helps to dampen the stretch reflex.
PNF Stretching
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is an advanced stretching technique which involves contracting and relaxing the muscles. Inside your tendons lies a proprioceptive organ called the golgi tendon (GTO). Your GTO senses any excessive force on the tendon, and when it feels there is a real risk for it to become torn or damaged, it inhibits your muscles, so they turn weak and loose. By using PNF to overwhelm your lower limbs with contractile force, when you release your GTO inhibits and loosens the muscles, which can make a huge difference in the splits.
- Straddle a pile of pillows (try couch pillows) with blocks or books at either side
- Set a timer for 5 minutes
- Lift out of the stretch and contract your legs so hard that they shake for 1-2-3-4-5
- Relax and exhale through your mouth, then inhale through your nose for 1-2-3-4
- Exhale mouth with a “ha” sound for 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
- Repeat the contract / relax cycle each minute until done
- Remove the pillows if and when you’re ready
- Aim for a 7/10 intensity
Best Practice
These are not gentle techniques. Please don’t do them before exercise, try to practice at the end of your day. And if you feel any pain when practicing, see a doctor.
Want to Learn More?
- Science of Stretching 5-Day Program
- 21-Day Hip Opening Challenge
- Lucas’ YouTube Channel (free to subscribe)
