Well I do, always did as far as I can remember.
Loved watching the dancers (classic ballet work-out/stretches, it is killing if you not up to it)
My newly starting fat distribution makes it so much more fun, as the waist is getting smaller despite my weight going up!
Male tummy bacon does get in the way as I clearly remember and it is a real bonus for me seeing how much easier I can do some of my exercises these days.

Always loved ballet, doing the exercises including the choreography (dance). Add aerobics dance to that.

How about you?

Axelle

I would love to be, but the back protests unless I am careful.   Even if I keep up my physio exercises I sometimes get caught out.  And then I don't do anything for a couple of days. 

Karen.

Please don't laugh now, but being flexible always was sort of connected to having a baby, giving birth and such.
It was just, if I can't have a baby (from own tummy) at least let me be flexible --- sort of a "consolation prize".
In fact it STILL is with me now, as I write.
It is one of those projections, I now, helping a little to cope with our bloody situation. Just too sad at times, eish.

Natal Girls, as given by mother nature, are at least initially more flexible then males --- that's the connection for me, if I'm quite honest about it.

Oddly, now feeling a bit embarrassed to spell it out.
Normally not so easily embarrassed, as we do know by now :-)

Axelle

Quote from: Axélle on August 14, 2011, 03:28:05 AM
Well I do, always did as far as I can remember.
Loved watching the dancers (classic ballet work-out/stretches, it is killing if you not up to it)
My newly starting fat distribution makes it so much more fun, as the waist is getting smaller despite my weight going up!
Male tummy bacon does get in the way as I clearly remember and it is a real bonus for me seeing how much easier I can do some of my exercises these days.

Always loved ballet, doing the exercises including the choreography (dance). Add aerobics dance to that.

How about you?

Axelle

Yes. While watching figure skating and acrobatics, generally female athletes seem more flexible than male. But I am not quite sure whether that is true. I guess male athletes are actually as flexible as female athletes.

I can say that my body is more flexible than my wife and my sons. I exercise regularly together with stretching. Depending on the type of stretching, some of my body parts are very flexible, but other parts are not. In my case, my legs are most flexible, but my back is not so much flexible. Exercise and stretching can greatly improve flexibility, although the upper limit is far greater for children.

Some of my photos.



My legs became flexible after starting stretching.



My upper body is no so much flexible, because I do not stretch my back regularly.

Barbie~~

Well, Barbie - and here we go again... :-)
All is equal --- but then some ARE more equal then others, or?

How many males can do a split and how many females? Lots more females that I have seen.

If males at all, then practically are all dancers.

The stretch you are showing (thank you for that pic) I would lie flat with my face on my knee, whilst in a 3/4 split. Just one example.

I done ballet classes for a long time in my 30s and early 40s and not ONE male could do a split (non-performers) and a lot of girls could, quite easily.
That is just one simply explained example, where why perception is based on.

Thanks for sharing hon,
Axelle

I come from a fairly inflexible family, both males and females. I'm not on hrt yet, I'm curious whether it impacts flexibility at all. I've lost a lot of weight and it certainly helps.

My hamstrings are getting more flexible through yoga but I still have short achilles although it is improving. Even as a kid, I loved toe walking... I get really tight where the adductors connect up which I'm trying to work on. It is nice to be able to sit cross-legged again. We tossed out  the kitchen table and built a low table so that we could sit on the ground for a meal together as a family. It has been a great move for us. It is a hit with the little one and really helped on the flexibility side too.

Quote from: Axélle on August 14, 2011, 03:28:05 AM
My newly starting fat distribution makes it so much more fun, as the waist is getting smaller despite my weight going up!
Male tummy bacon does get in the way as I clearly remember and it is a real bonus for me seeing how much easier I can do some of my exercises these days.

That may actually be my most dysphoric aspect at this point...I hate my flabby belly.  Its not so much that I mind the weight, in numbers (within reason) as I do actually LOOKING like the number on the scale.  If I could just get rid of the belly (having just started AAs), I would be feeling so much better about myself.

Axelle,

I am not quite sure. Most parents here have their daughters get ballet lessons, while their sons soccer or martial art lessons. I am not quite sure, but this kind of social stereotype on gender also plays a role in the difference in body flexibility between men and women. It is a familiar nature vs. nurture debate.

Actually martial arts require a greater degree of body flexibility. When I first practiced it at my later 20s, my body was very stiff and it was very difficult to do any movement. But after exercising and stretching, I found that my body was not so stiff as I initially thought. I had been raised a boy, not having any chance to increase body flexibility. Compared with other male mates, my body became flexible more quickly, although it was not at the level of children.

But, I agree that those possessing unbelievable body flexibility are mostly women.



Barbie~~

And there is also a man:


from http://www.amazingcoolpictures.com/2011/04/daniel-browning-smith-worlds-most.html

Barbie~~

I'm hyper-flexible, double-jointed (total misnomer) whatever you wanna call it - my tendons are much, much looser than the average person's. It's double-edged, useful for some things, but I could do without the screwed up knees and feet. And I was banned from gymnastics when I was little because of it - doctor worried I'd damage myself apparently.

I'm not the least bit flexible, except when it comes to my big, double-jointed elbows.  I have no problems scratching every square inch of my back both with my palms facing out and with them facing in.  And my arms are so long that I can wrap them around myself in front and touch my fingers behind my back.

I love being flexible !!!!
I'm not actually that super flexible but it just feels really good when you do dancing and stuff that involves lots of body movements.
Pole dancing is very good for your body it tones it and completely flexes your body out, just saying hehe.

Salisha x x

Barbie,
this guy is gross. Ick.
He likes to regularly dislocate his shoulder joints. Says he has this NEED to do it, eh.
Watched a program on him.
Please  tell me what woman will get up to such anaesthetic stuff. Can he do a split? Actually not so sure. Well if there are girls like him, don't tell me.

Also he his one major exception in my estimate. No need to dislocate any parts to dance well, goodness!

Also do I like the pole dance suggestion --- not sure if that for geriatrics though?

How about lap dancing? Should be a bit easier on the joints and get away with 3/4 splits, hehe.

Axelle

In men's sports, I think it is martial arts that requires a greater degree of body flexbility.



Also, basically virtually all sportmen need to keep body flexibiltiy.



Barbie~~

Barbie,
right on, there we go, and I have to agree, no question.

Done Aikido many years back, but not a girly sport for me, but what did I know? And so, MUCH preferred ballet.

Very well, we may hold some good hope with our unwanted AMAB skeletons to have close to, or equal, AFAB flexibility? Um.

Thank you for sharing, now off watching "Sex and the City"... :-)

Axelle