17/07/2025
Well said Aspirations Performing Arts 👏
It's our responsibility to teach safely and prioritise the health and well-being of our students ❤️
🧠 Wisdom Wednesday: The Truth About Overstretching
With school holidays approaching, let’s talk openly.
Yes, stretching matters.
Yes, we teach it with care.
But no—we do not subscribe to the over splits trend sweeping social media.
Why? Because overstretching, especially in pre-hormonal years (ages 7–10), can be deeply detrimental. Each time a joint is pushed beyond its natural range, the surrounding ligaments loosen—leading to instability. And in young children, growth plates are still unsealed, making them vulnerable to long-term damage.
We’re talking:
- Hip socket distortion
- Spinal stress fractures
- Ligament laxity
- Early joint degeneration
✨ Technique should build longevity, not sacrifice it for likes.
Let’s be really honest:
A photo of a student in over splits might get hundreds- thousands of views on TikTok. But is that being a responsible teacher to the child in your care?
We think not.
Here’s a physiotherapist’s perspective from The Ballet Blog—a must-read for dancers, parents, and educators. https://theballetblog.com/portfolio/is-over-stretching-bad/
At Aspirations, we stretch with purpose.
We teach with integrity.
And we protect the future bodies of the dancers we love.