Ok. I'm going to get flexible again. I'm making this progress blog so that I'll stick to my guns and actually update it every week or so. (Hold me to it!)

Anyway, this is what I'm starting with. Not awful, but hardly where I used to be. I wish I had old pictures of where I was at when I was in ballet, but they were all wiped off my computer when it crashed.

Both my sides are pretty equal so I'll only post one pic of each thing.

#1. I actually didn't think I could do this any more. Surprise. Goal is to get my front leg straight. Dream is to be able to lean completely back in a full split.
#2. I can get my head to rest on my leg but that's not proper technique... Goal is to be able to stretch beyond my leg.
#3. I know my hips are all twisted up in this pic. Something to work on. Goal is to get back a good oversplit.
#4. Back catch - something else I didn't think I could do. Goal is to get my legs completely straight.
#5. My penchee. I'm actually really embarrassed by this picture. Believe it or not, I used to be able to get it nearly 180 degrees. Just shows how quickly your strength goes when you don't maintain it. Also my hips are twisted in this pic too.
#6. Bridge. Goal is to be able to get my elbows on the floor. Dream is to have elbows on the floor and my legs straight.

So there. A list of my goals and a starting point. SOAD is getting flexible again, that's that.

Woo! Go girl!

I said some of this in the karma already, but you're pretty much inspiring me to get back into my stretching as well. I've wanted to do a stretching diary as well, but where I'm at right now is pretty awful.

But good luck to you!!

Do you have a time frame in mind for any of these goals? 6 months? Under a year?

I admire the fact that you mention maintenance and how you've lost some flexibility/strength because you didn't maintain it. I hope that doesn't sound rude, I think it's cool that you realize these things. Also, I like your goals I'm completely inflexible, so this is all pretty amazing to me.

Great job...I am so jealous of your back bend! I was never overly flexible in my back, but at 36 I don't even want to try it!

Great work! Thank you for sharing these photos!

MisterMister