Topic: Can you learn to spread your legs?

[Lunarite]

I'm sorry! I really couldn't think of any nice way to ask the question!
And the kind of things that the unfortunate subject suggests, well, honestly, they're not unrelated.

Right now, if I lie back, I can bring my legs to a little less than a 90° angle, which doesn't leave all that much room for, well, ahem. Whereas in my (limited) experience, (some? many? most?) women can comfortably have their thighs at something like 130°-140° (look, I never had a protractor, okay?), and even more with knees higher (that is, towards the head).
Obviously, male hips are a different shape to female ones. I was hoping to find out whether it is possible to acquire a degree of that flexibility. I wouldn't expect to match it.

I was once reasonably flexible, though more recent lack of exercise has diminished that (and I am sure a few more years of age hasn't helped), but I'm willing to get back to it. In fact, it's another reason to keep at the exercise.
Unlike 'simply' (ha) learning to do the splits, you don't get an assist from your own weight against the floor. And I'd want to be relaxed and comfortable, not straining to hold a stretch.

And if it's not possible, or to not much of a degree, I guess I should be learning about alternate, er, practices, but that's a subject for another board.

[HappyMoni]

Don't have an answer other than to stretch, but I love this post. So practical and to the point.

[Maid Marion]

Yes, I'm easily that flexible but I can't do splits.  With exercise my waist is nine inches thinner than my hips.  It may help that I weigh just 108lbs.

Marion

[Rakel]

Flexibility is limited by two things, the length of  your ligaments and bone structure.

You can stretch your ligaments by exercise and increase your angle between your legs up to the point where your bone structure is the limit.

My situation is similar. Many years ago I broke my left hip in a motorcycle crash. This left me with a limited range of motion laterally on my left side. My right hip could open much wider than my left. My left hip would come up against a hard stop and I could not open my legs any wider.

I just lived with this situation until my left hip got so bad that I desperately needed a hip replacement. After I healed from my hip replacement surgery, I found that the hard stop was gone and I could open my hips wider than before.

Keep in mind that during my hip surgery recovery, I exercised several times a day and stretching was an important part of my recovery.

[JudiBlueEyes]

I see that I am not as limber as I was (or thought I was). When I was younger I too was really flexible in my arm and leg joints but two years ago I took a yoga class and it was a revelation to me to see others stretch much further than I.  I may be limited now (as Rakel notes) so I try to do what I can to stay fit.

[Ellie_Arroway]

I have a feeling it's something that yoga may help with.

It looks like I can do about 100-110 degrees. I am pre-HRT.

[Lunarite]

Hmm, I no longer get emails when a post is replied to. Thank you for replying, I wasn't ignoring intentionally!

I am trying to get back into the habit of going to the gym. It hasn't yet become a habit. I took a break for far too long - I won't say how long, but I was paying my (fortunately fairly cheap) gym subscription, and they did very well out of me!
When I used to go regularly, the only floor exercises I did were cooldown stretches. I intend to work in some actual exercise at that point too. Of course, there's good overlap between stretching for effect and for cooldown, which is good.
Fully intending to go to the gym in the next hour or two, and adding a couple of stretches.

I have thought about yoga a lot. However, like many here I'm sure, I am not very comfortable with my body, and the thought of being somewhat exposed and under scrutiny in a public environment does not fill me with joy.
Right now, I'm just presenting male, so the awkwardness is mostly internal. But I have no idea how I could possibly attend a yoga class when the time comes I move over to presenting female. I mean, yoga pants are right out.
Might not be a crazy idea to buy a yoga mat and follow along to some videos in the privacy of my own home.

@HappyMoni It's another thing where I see differences between my own body and what femaleness 'looks like'. I still (like many other people) find it embarrassing to talk about sex-related stuff, even though it's a normal and often nice part of life. I reckon plenty of people would be better if they found a way to ask about the practical side of these things.

[Jenny_Oh]

Pre-HRT I would struggle to touch my toes with my ankles together and my legs straight. Now I can get both palms on the floor and I stretch only once or twice a week. With some regular effort I imagine that would improve. Not testing any angles for you in skinny jeans 

[Maddie]

Stretching yes.  I like the feeling of being able to reach and still breathe.
Trying to assume conducive positions in case it ever goes there

[Lisa89125]

The secret is to stretch. I've found that I have more flexibility since I started splits training. Front splits are easier to achieve than middle splits. I want to be able to do both without feeling like I am being ripped apart. 

Yoga is a must for flexibility. I've found that yoga has helped me in my splits training.

I've always aspired to be a dancer growing up. At age 6/7 I was pretty flexible. These days, I find I am stiff as a 2x4. It's going to be a long slow journey. Age might also inhibit me from getting back my flexibility to some extent.

Lisa