Originally Posted by niupartyangel

Surprised:

My left side split is verrryy close to the ground now and since I've been stretching the hip flexors more, the back knee is straighter and looks nicer. From afar it even looks like i'm all the way down to the ground. Right side split is all the way down the ground now i've always been more flexible on the right side...center split is still about 160 degrees maybe...but i can probably open up wider if i try more since it's not as comfortable anymore to be sitting in that position. I turn 28 next month and I can't believe that at this "ripe old age" I'll have at least my side splits by then I'm a BELIEVER. People used to tell me that some bodies are just not "built" for splits and since I never had a good ballet turnout, I always thought I'd be one of those people.

Originally Posted by niupartyangel

And of course I have to thank you doubletoe, for your awesome advice on the splits

oversplits? i haven't attempted that. Next year maybe!!! I just love being able to sit on a simple side split now lol.

Originally Posted by doubletoe

Yep, me, too! At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I did the splits for the first time at age 42 and now, at 44, I can do a 4" over-split with either the right or left leg in front (although the left side is more of a challenge for me as well). I'm still about where you are on the middle splits, but will continue to work on it. I've found that the key is just to hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds.
Turnout depends on the structure of the hip joint so is not something you can necessarily achieve by stretching, but splits are achievable for just about everyone, since the flexibility comes from gradually lengthening the muscles.