For heel stretches/bow and arrows, you can do lie down and lift/pull your flying leg up while keeping your other leg straight. This may be hard at first and you may not be able to lift it that high, but over time it will make it easier and you will definitely feel that pull! Also a very difficult, but worthwhile stretch involves using ankle weights. You can buy these at any sporting good store (Modell’s/Dick’s Sporting Goods). They are no more than ten dollars and they REALLY work for heel stretches and bow and arrows. You practice doing your heel stretches with the ankle weight on your heel stretch leg and kick it up and try to grab it. Trust me, you may not be able to do it at first, but over time you will be able to and it will make it so much easier once you take the ankle weights off.

For scorpions and arabesques, this is all about stretching your back out and making your back more flexible. Bridges are good for this, walking your hands to your feet while in a bridge is also beneficial. Practicing stepping on a block and doing this helps you feel like you are in the air as well. If you don’t have a block, a step works too! The ankle weights also work here, but as I said before can be very hard at first so don’t give up!