I had been told that there are certain things only kids can do, and once you pass a certain age threshold, you shouldn't even attempt those things. It'll be a waste of time.
My mind said- "Challenge accepted!".
Here are examples of what I was told adults can't learn, and I did.
- A new language(I am conversational in Spanish, started at 28 y/o)
- Swimming(I can swim 0.5 miles in the ocean, and I am a decent surfer now, started at 30 y/o)
- Full splits(I had my first touchdown at the age of 34. I think I walk better now)
Did I get better than someone learning since childhood?
Probably not.
Was it a waste of time?
Heck, no.
My world is a new place to live now. I don't get back pains even after heavy lifting sessions, not even after I do dozens of box jumps. These are all the surprising benefits of achieving full splits and why I urge anyone I know to focus more on their flexibility, stability, and alignment.
Why In The World Would You Attempt Something So Hard in Your Mid-Thirties?
It was a self-inflicted challenge.
As a kid, I always wanted to be a gymnast, but growing up in India, you can either be a doctor, an engineer, or a disgrace.
So I chose to rebel. I became an Engineer because girls were expected to become doctors(usually gynecologists, ugh).
The will to tumble, do cartwheels, and the splits never died.
One peaceful evening, completely unprovoked(ok, that's a lie- they said I couldn't be a gymnast or learn a split as an adult), I searched for a YouTube video and started with this one.
What is the worst that could happen? I will follow some warm-up moves and get a nice stretch for my lower body. Of course, I won't do the split and go to the position I can push myself to the max and breathe.
I liked the way it felt after this stretching session.
The build-up was significant. The legs warmed up nicely before attempting to split, and I practiced breathing in the half-split as my body would allow.
So I told myself that I should practice this 20-minute sequence every day.
When I didn't have 20 minutes, I did this 10-minute sequence.
When I had 30 minutes, I did both.
How long did it take me to achieve the splits?
I had my first touchdown in six weeks when I practiced anywhere from 10–30 minutes 4–5 times a week.
I couldn't believe it.
My mind was 49% convinced that I couldn't do this at age 34, but 51% of it believed that I could, and so I did.
That's all we need to do all hard things: focus on what our mind and body tell us. If there's any chance a "YES" feels "heavier" than a "NO" from the mind, give it your consistent effort over a while.
I swear, magic happens in this "YES" zone.
The incredible and surprising benefits I am reaping now
Almost instantly, I doubled how much weight I used to deadlift.
The strength was always there in my hamstrings, but the flexibility gave me the confidence to lift more.
I recently did a one rep max of 80kgs(176lb) and know that I wouldn't have attempted it if I didn't have confidence in my hamstrings.
This will sound bizarre, but I think I walk better now.
Yoga has improved my alignment, posture, and form, but after achieving the splits, I felt tall and smooth in an act as simple as walking.
I recover way faster from hard lower-body workouts now. My hamstrings rarely get sore the day after.
I wish I could say the same for my quads(I guess mastering Hero's pose is next for making the quads more flexible)
What does it take to maintain the splits?
You use it, or you lose it.
A few months after I achieved my splits, I got pregnant with my second baby. I continued practicing them gently through my first trimester but was afraid to overstretch my body as the months passed.
A hormone called Relaxin makes your muscles and joints more stretchy to prepare for birth, and it is not recommended to stretch too much at this time to prevent injury.
After giving birth and recovering for about eight months(A total break of 14 months), I lost my splits. The mere idea of touching the floor was painful.
Of course, I wanted them back, so I started practicing with the same yoga videos 3–4 times a week.
The next time, I had a touchdown in 4 weeks.
These days, whenever I work out and know my legs are warm, I do quick stretches and ensure that I get into the splits position at least 4–5 times a week to maintain them.
What's next for me?
I will attempt to get my middle splits.
I plan to read a book three years from now while chilling in a pancake-like middle split.
I love giving myself vast chunks of time to do hard things, and it has become a habit- consistently make minor improvements every week and enjoy the compound effects after a few years.
It's a habit now, and I freaking love it!
Here are a few tips to achieve your splits
- Give yourself lots of time. There is no rush, a race, and no need to injure yourself. My goal was to do it in one year; six weeks surprised me.
- Learn to explore the discomfort and go deep into it. Distracting yourself from the pain will only get you so far.
- When it gets a bit painful, keep a curious mind and get in touch with your body to understand what it's trying to do or say to you.
- Exhale and give in to the sensation. Let go.
- Set an intention on why you're doing this, and you will have to believe in the benefits to be able to do something hard.
- Consult an expert before attempting these yoga sessions if you have back or knee issues.
Increased flexibility is worth its weight in gold and will distinguish your physical performance from your previous self. The only comparison is our past self.
Making those boulders bigger without functional and flexible muscles is an invitation to getting injured.
"Don't skip splits day" is the new "Don't skip leg day".