What You'll Learn
- Targeted techniques to release tension in the hamstrings, hip flexors, and calves.
- The role of breath and relaxation in deepening your range of motion safely.
- How to maintain proper alignment in a split to ensure an even stretch and avoid injury.
- Effective use of props like yoga blocks or pillows to support your progression toward the floor.
- Pain management strategies and how to distinguish between good sensation and harmful strain.
About This Video
Achieving beautiful, flat splits is a landmark goal for many dancers, yet the journey involves more than simply reaching for the floor. At Broche Ballet, we prioritize a mindful, anatomically sound approach to flexibility. This comprehensive Splits Flow is a dedicated 16-minute practice designed to help you navigate the complexities of your body’s internal resistance.
By focusing on the hamstrings, hip flexors, and the lower back, this session creates a pathway to a deeper and safer range of motion. The class begins with essential preparation, including side-to-side movements and heel-toeing to gently wake up the joints and muscles before moving into deeper territory. Throughout this flow, you will be guided to use your breath as a primary tool to release tension.
We explore how relaxation in the neck, eyes, and even the jaw can influence the depth of a hamstring stretch. This holistic focus ensures that you aren't fighting against your own nervous system. Proper alignment is a core pillar of this practice.
By keeping the hips square and the spine long, you ensure that the stretch is distributed evenly across the muscle fibers, preventing the common injuries associated with forcing a position. For those whose splits are still developing, we highly recommend utilizing props such as yoga blocks or pillows. These tools allow you to maintain the integrity of your posture while gradually decreasing the distance to the floor.
This session is particularly beneficial for improving the height and aesthetics of your ballet lines, from a soaring grand jeté to a stable arabesque. We emphasize the importance of listening to your body; ballet is an art of patience. If you encounter pain, the instruction guides you to back off and find a sustainable sensation.
By repeating these exercises and allowing for moments of rest between sets, you facilitate maximum muscle fiber recruitment and long-term flexibility gains. Join the Broche Ballet community in this focused flow to unlock your physical potential and bring a new level of grace and ease to your dancing.
