10-Minute Post-Class Ballet Splits Follow-Along Stretch

Achieving beautiful splits is a significant milestone for many dancers, but the journey requires more than just passive stretching. This 10-minute post-class follow-along from Broche Ballet focuses on active flexibility techniques to help you safely deepen your range of motion. By specifically targeting the hip flexors, hamstrings, and lower back, this routine ensures your body is prepared for the high-intensity demands of the barre and center work. Stretching immediately after class is ideal, as your muscles are warm and more receptive to lengthening.

In this session, we emphasize the importance of alignment over sheer depth. You will learn why keeping your back leg straight and parallel is crucial during a lunge to effectively target the hip flexors. Rather than simply dropping into a split, we utilize active engagement—pulling the legs toward each other—to protect the joints and create lasting muscle memory. This approach prevents common injuries and ensures that your flexibility translates into better extensions and higher arabesque lines. We also explore how to use the heel of the back leg to activate the hamstrings, which allows the muscle to release more deeply into the stretch.

We also incorporate the use of yoga blocks or floor support to make the stretches accessible for every body. If you struggle with tight hamstrings, using blocks allows you to maintain a straight spine and square hips, which is far more beneficial than reaching the floor with a rounded back. You will also practice a gentle cambré forward or reach to incorporate the lower back, ensuring a holistic stretch that addresses all the muscle groups involved in a full split. Consistency is key to seeing results in ballet. By adding this 10-minute routine to the end of your regular practice, you are training your nervous system to accept a greater range of motion while maintaining the strength necessary for technical precision.