Here are some tips to help your flexibility for dance//cheer//gymnastics//or just for fun:)
1. Stretch everyday, twice a dayy. think about the skills you want to improve your flexibility. Ex. splits, squirpins, touching your toes, etc
2.When you first go to stretch, dont overdo it. if you stretch too hard, you can easily pull a muscle. Just go down till you feel a small tug. hold for 3 O secs- 6 O. If you cant hold it that long, you went too far. if it dosent hurt at all afterward, you need to stretch farther.
3. The next time you go to stretch, try to pull it a LITTLE farther than last time. if you cant, thats fine. it may take a little longer than others.
4.After you workout, make sure you stretch before and after. if you dont, the next time you go to stretch, it will hurt alot, and you probably wont be able to get as far.
5. be patient! lets be real, if you never stretched, youre not going to be able to do a split overnight. for me, doing a plit took me about 4-5 months, stretching almost everyday. js:)
6. Make sure you keep up with your routine! you might not want to make it as long and hard for this reason
7. If youre working on doing a split,go as far down as you can get. make sure both legs are straight. sit up in your spli, and hold your hands up for 10 secs. bring your hands down, and hold it for a minute. by putting your hands up, it hurts, but if your close to getting into a split, it helps alot.
8. Try sitting in a stradel, stretch to each leg for 30 secs, the middle. Then do the pike. You can also try doing the butterfly, or stretching your arms:)
Hope you liked this:) personal exprience, i do gymnastics, so these things help me.
-Kristen