What Workouts Or Exercises Help You Build Flexibility?
Photo By Keith Allison via StockPholio.net
How can I build flexibility?
This is one of the most common questions aspiring professional cheerleaders ask while preparing their bodies for the cheer auditions. There are great workout choices that help increase your flexibility but you also need to understand that flexibility is built over time. Regardless of the exercise regimen that you use to become more flexible, remember to take things slow. Rushing the process can only result in unwanted injury and this can prevent you from auditioning.
Let's go back to the basics. Why is flexibility a basic requirement in professional cheerleading?
Flexibility is so important in professional cheerleading for the reason that cheerleaders usually perform high kicks and splits. You will most likely be taught a kickline routine in one of the audition rounds and be required to perform this for the judges. Your low kick could keep you off the team!
In addition to that, being flexible allows you to execute a full range of motion which helps maximize your dance movements. Your posture and skeletal alignment improve. You become less susceptible to injuries and soreness since your muscles are well prepared.
Workouts to develop your flexibility
Below is a list of the best workouts to increase your flexibility. When performing these exercises, remember not to "cheat" a stretch. Start slowly until you progress. Don't forget to breathe!
Yoga
Yoga is beneficial for achieving general fitness, increased stamina, and flexibility. Based on 10 studies with over 500 participants, it has been shown that yoga improves flexibility in both upper and lower body.
Here are some widely recognized yoga poses for a great start:
1. Reclined Big Toe Pose - This pose involves lying on your back and looping a yoga strap around the arch of your foot while holding the ends of the strap with your hands.
2. Downward-Facing Dog - Providing a good stretch for the entire body, the downward-facing dog targets your hamstrings, spine, calves, shoulders, and arms.
Photo courtesy: Yogatouchmethod.com
3. Bridge Pose - The bridge pose gives your shoulders, chest, neck, spine, and hips a good stretch. This pose also rejuvenates tired legs and helps relieve a backache. Remember to keep your buttocks firm.
Photo courtesy: Reneemullingslewis.com
Barre Workouts
An amazing fitness trend that builds your flexibility and strength and gives you a dancer's physique is Barre. Barre fitness classes are mainly inspired from ballet. They involve small, isometric movements, plies and pirouettes, and combine some elements of pilates and yoga. Most beginners find barre workouts appealing since they're easy on the joints.
Photo courtesy: Everydayhealth.com
Other benefits of barre workouts (in addition to flexibility) include:
- Greater range of motion
- Improvement in balance and coordination
- Tones problem areas
- Builds core strength
When joining a barre class, remember to focus on proper form - instead of hurrying up on reps. Think quality over quantity. A lot of movements involve using the barre, a stationary handrail for support placed along the side of a mirrored wall. Prepare to work on your glutes, legs, upper body, and core - and feel exhausted but great! These barre movements are somehow uncomfortable since they'll be targeting areas of your body that are less frequently used.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a very challenging but intensely rewarding way to develop superb flexibility because it requires a lot of coordination and balance on your end. This strength-based sport also helps increase your discipline. There are a lot of gymnastics classes that cater to beginner adults. Start looking for a class that's closest to where you live.
Photo courtesy: Zozi.com
The most important part of a gymnastics class is stretching. You may not be able to see yourself tumbling in less time but you'll appreciate the flexibility, coordination, and strength you'll get which are needed in professional cheerleading.
According to Gymnastics.isport.com, there are various types of gymnastics classes. Fitness-based classes can be an excellent option if you seek to improve your current fitness level while having fun. These classes focus on stretching and mobility. Expect yourself to achieve long and strong muscles with effort and consistency.
Get Started With Fitness And Flexibility
Cheerleading is a lifestyle - A lifestyle dedicated to fitness.
Cheerleaders are renowned for staying fit, flexible, and strong so they can give out their best performance in the arena.
However, achieving that wow-worthy, toned physique doesn’t happen overnight. You need to arm yourself with the right daily workouts.
With that, we are offering you our fun, FREE (for a LIMITED time) POM FIT™ INTRO CLASS that ensures powerful cardio moves you can keep up with.
To take your cheerleading fitness to the next level, we have POM FIT™: GAMEDAY1™ - a series of full-body cardio classes that include a body stretch class, kick stretch class, abdominal workout class, and more.
Join a POM FIT™ class below:
POM FIT™ INTRO CLASS (Free for a LIMITED time)
POM FIT™: GAMEDAY1™ ($27.00 USD)
