MTF HRT... Will I get more flexible?

[Robin Mack]

Seriously.  It took me two months of intense yoga just to be able to touch my toes.  My hamstrings, in particular, are incredibly tight, something that does not seem to effect CIS women.

I've heard some vague mentions of "loosening of joints", but I'm curious to see if anyone else has had tendons and other internal bits change as they went through HRT.  For example, if before HRT a woman could barely touch her toes and during/long into it if she could touch the floor with her palms (bending at the waist with legs straight).

Thanks for any input you can give! 

[Heather]

I've never heard of getting more flexible on hrt. I haven't noticed any difference but I was already highly flexible. But it may be possible we are talking about muscles and hrt does weaken them so it may be possible.  But I think you should just keep stretching your muscles and retrain them that may eventually give you the flexibility your looking for.

[Lexi Belle]

Seriously.  It took me two months of intense yoga just to be able to touch my toes.  My hamstrings, in particular, are incredibly tight, something that does not seem to effect CIS women.

I've heard some vague mentions of "loosening of joints", but I'm curious to see if anyone else has had tendons and other internal bits change as they went through HRT.  For example, if before HRT a woman could barely touch her toes and during/long into it if she could touch the floor with her palms (bending at the waist with legs straight).

Thanks for any input you can give! 

Lack of testosterone will shrink your muscles and tendons, so in idea they should be able to somewhat assist in flexibility, but ultimately it won't change a thing if you don't practice. Flexibility comes through practice

[Lady_Oracle]

yep i noticed a difference about 4months in. I was finally able to do the downward dog position after years of struggling with it. But my hip bones also changed so that probably made the biggest difference. So I definitely felt a difference but it wasn't by much, less tension

[PrincessDayna]

I noticed this about three weeks ago, shaving my legs in the shower, totally was able to lift my leg alone, to almost touching ky chest with it, while shaving my legs. It crossed my mind slightly, but never thought more of it!

[luna nyan]

Possibly, if there's enough loss of muscle mass.  Stretching is more likely to help than anything else. =)

I haven't noticed a change in my flexibility.

[Robin Mack]

Thank you all, for your replies... here's hoping that *something* helps.  I am going to check with my yoga studio and make sure they are transition-friendly.  Here's hoping... otherwise I may just practice solo until hormones have been active for a while.  :\

[vlmitchell]

Not really. I'm an active athlete and I get stiff and sore and flexibility isn't a thing that I get without really working for it.

[Northern Jane]

"Will I get more flexible?"

Sorry, no. Flexibility takes training (unless you are 6 years old LOL!) but the good news is that your potential to become more flexible good.

[K8]

After four years of estrogen, my hamstrings aren't as tight as they were.  But it isn't the hormones - it has been all the work at the gym.  If I stopped working out, my hamstrings would be just as tight as they were before I started E.
- Kate

[PrincessDayna]

"Will I get more flexible?"

Sorry, no. Flexibility takes training (unless you are 6 years old LOL!) but the good news is that your potential to become more flexible good.

I think this variable is dependant on each individual. Like everything else hrt wise. Like i noted above, i got more flexible in my legs....i think it was due to muscles atrophying to a certain degree. Never in my life have i been able to lift my knee to pretty much touch my chest and hold it there on its own, while balancing in the shower on top of it. Not that its something major but it was definately one of those things that catch you off gaurd. It may not be HRT related, it may be. But as always there are smaller variables in what changes we all get based off of genetics. *shrugs*

[SciNerdGirl]

I have been actively working on my flexibility for about 1 year now.  When I started I couldn't even come close to touching my toes, and now I can put my head on my knees with my legs out, and  I'm about 7 inches away from doing full front splits.  It doesn't always come easy, but if you work at it you will see progress. 

There is tons of good advice on the web (specifically you-tube) on improving flexibility.  Search especially for dancer flexibility.  Great advice and motivation.

I have noticed that my movements are significantly more graceful now that I have improved my flexibility.

Good Luck.
J.

[SciNerdGirl]

One more piece of advice.  When you are done stretching, your body should feel awesome.  It's a little like the feeling I get when I'm on narcotic pain killers (kind of micro-orgasm).  If it feels like this, you will see your best progress.  If your body hurts or you feel sore and crummy, you are probably trying to to stretch too hard too fast (a problem I have had many times).  Take it slow, the most you should feel while stretching is a little discomfort (not pain).  When you release the stretch it should feel really good.

J.

[Ms Grace]

I've been doing yoga for 20+ years, when I started I would have been lucky to touch my knees. Took a long time to get flexible but I'd quickly lose it if I didn't practice. Since being on HRT I feel I am a bit more limber but it might be due to the fact I'm doing more stretching on a daily basis.

[Gina_Z]

I want to be more graceful. I want to be more flexible. This thread will now send me to Youtubes that describe stretching and yoga exercises. Thank you all!

I just found this awesome meditative yoga stretching video:

[TaoRaven]

Martial Arts. Especially Chinese Martial Arts.

One of my proudest moments was the day I poked myself in the eye with my big toe.