u/DoubleCup8490

hi! i've been working on my splits for a few months now, but i'd love to get some advice from y'all about where to go from here.

i currently do a pretty generic set of hamstring/hip flexor stretches, usually 4 times a week for ~20-30 mins after i hit legs or cardio so that my legs are warmed up already. most are from daniwinks plus a few others i've seen in this sub.

i know my split is currently NOT square at all, but i have really bad nerve tension (probably from being sedentary all the time oops) so i can only feel a stretch when i open my hips right now ): i try to do my hip flexor stretches with my hips square but i can only stretch my hamstrings with i turn out rip. i have been doing nerve flosses every time i stretch but it hasn't helped much yet...it still bothers me when i touch my toes and i get scared to use too much weight when doing jefferson curls, so lmk if you have other tips to work on that. additionally, in my split position, i personally feel that i'm being limited by my hamstrings, but from these photos, i can't tell?

add'l context that might be relevant: i used to have my splits maybe 10 years ago (?) when i did dance & gymnastics as a kid, so i theoretically shouldn't have any issue regaining them eventually with square hips, unless my bone structure drastically changed during puberty. also, i am currently pretty active in the gym & swam competitively up until last year, but i never regularly stretched before & my leg strength was undoubtedly my weakness as a swimmer 😅

thank you in advanced for your help!

can't tell if this bag is super used, or if it is fake. asking for a closer up photo of the creed asw, but i'm already leaning towards fake. thank you!!

photo from theiliasociety

TELL A FRIEND TO TELL A FRIEND...SHE'S BAAAAACK (on instagram with full access!)

hi everyone! copying others in this sub who have written out their show experiences to share my two cents + some cool photos i took! (keeping it to ilia only bc otherwise this would be a textbook and a half)

stargazers: welp. i'm probably not getting over this any time soon but my train into newark was mega delayed and i missed the entire first hour of warmups. i was already very upset about being late, but finding out that he went on a jumping spree made it 100x more painful lol... i did manage to catch his combos at the end, which were epic to say the least...except i was stuck sitting on the other end of the rink and didn't have a good view 😭 alas, i spent the past two weeks being especially excited for that segment, but life goes on!

brink of annihilation/fearless: i was trying to watch while adjusting my camera settings so the photos all turned out shit but i loved all of the movement in this number!! it's nice to be a later-ish stop since the skaters have already performed this choreo dozens of times so it looks very polished now :)

american gold/a voice: HIS COSTUME IS SO SPARKLY WOW i was SO EXCITED to watch this program live and i can't lie i put the camera down for most of it lol honestly it was so healing watching him skate to that music now with so much energy and confidence 😌

iwmfly: my favorite program hands down. i've watched this gala so many times but AGAIN in person it was something different!! i will kill anyone who says ilia lacks artistry or skating skills ✌️ unfortunately his rose went to a girl three rows DIRECTLY in front of me tho (come on ilia, you couldn't have thrown it a little further... 😂) also, i'm sure you can tell but i made sure to take a LOT of photos. i mean, can you blame me 🙂‍↕️

too darn hot: ilia was on the other side of the rink for most of this number but MY GOD when he came around i think i died (see: first two slides. like hello.) also this number felt SO long they really kept us FED 🙈 i've mainly seen short clips so i kept thinking the program was over, and then they'd continue on hah

i just might: ok so idk why but this program is so endearing to me...they're so goofy and happy and i love it so much 😭 i prob watched this one the most before the show so i knew the entire choreo Lmao but yet again, it is so so different and special watching it live

lose yourself/jump around: this program is a lil empty in terms of choreo but boy does he get into character 😂 i was very excited for the backflips (partly bc i did not photograph any of the previous ones) and wormilia, although he stopped midway bc the music was ending smh.

life in color: oop i just realized none of the photos from that program made the cut. i had chills during this number bc i realized the show was ending and i was both very enthralled by all of the skating i had just witnessed, and very very sad that it was already over 🥲 the joy of all of the skaters was so contagious and the crowd was so lively!! i'm so glad i forked up money to exchange my ticket since i was originally in the upper bowl, but i ended up being so close to the ice so i could see EVERYTHING!

anyway, i hope that for anyone who can't make any of the shows, these photos bring you some of the magic 😁🫶

sneak peek!!! why is reddit butchering the quality 😵‍💫

might delete to add watermark later but you guys i can’t even be upset that i missed most of stargazers because the performances are so good (jk i’m not over missing the 4A in person and might buy tickets at another stop just for another stargazers)

i thought this clip was worth posting since it looks like he made some adjustments in his arm movements (like he replaced his usual pump around 0:37) and they look ESPECIALLY controlled? i know he sometimes gets criticism about his arms "flailing" or whatever (there are times i can sorta agree, but also it's not surprising given the momentum/power he has exiting elements like the raspberry twist, hello) but i did not get that impression at all while watching this.

idk guys i might be going crazy but i'll have to watch it side by side with his other performances later

edit: oh help he did the spirit fingers in his ina bauer at a previous show too LOL idk why i just noticed now

ilia's straight face after + amber's reaction is frying me

credit: mm_center on instagram

vadym and ilia having a breakdance battle ???

Besties fr

into the void... he kinda looks like a roblox character in this lol

from jason!

is that a smirnoff ice over there 👀

this gives kaori cracking open a cold one after worlds but it's basically alcoholic soda 😂 ig they need something to decompress in between so many back-to-back shows...

ilia's skates being the only ones that are completely upside down is so on brand

credit: madi chock on instagram

almost became a penguin for a second!

both vids from the ilia society on x