Quote Originally Posted by denuseri View Post
This is kind of counter intuitive sounding, but what helps speed up the process is to kneel and stretch from that position. Kneel and then lean backwards until you can place one hand on the ground behind you. Repeat, alternating sides. Your thighs will feel terrible initially, but in a few weeks you will be much more limber wjen kneeling normally. Also, dont try to sit like some kind of statue, move around a little, make yourself comfortable, kneeling can be used as a punnishment, but thats not its primary purpose in a any way.

Finally, remember to breathe! deeply! both while kneeling and while stretching from that position. If you are tense, not breathing, and thinking "ow ow ow" every time you kneel, it will take much longer for you to become comfortable in that position.

Doing lunges was especially helpful with a focus on dropping your groin toward the floor and stretching the thigh of the back leg.

Otherwise, take a blanket and fold it up, put it either between your feet or on top of your feet to support your rear. As you get more comfortable at one level, unfold your blanket a bit (this process will take a while, not just over the course of a day but over weeks or more). You should always feel stretched but never extreme pain. There's nothing wrong with "cheating" if it helps keep you from being in massive pain/injuring yourself while you practice.
Great advice! Thank you for this denuseri! I have started stretching and I work from the actual kneeling position and do the very thing you are saying. I like the tip about the blanket and will definitely use it! I am in pretty solid shape but could use some stretching and practice in staying in those positions for more than a minute or two.

~Master's muse~