Janet Jackson Amazing Flexibility at Age 56!

Janet Jackson has been an icon. From over 30 years ago with her album Control when she was 20 years old to selling millions of records and performing in stadiums to hundreds of thousands of people at age 56, Janet is doing it. But don’t let her age fool you–she’s still got the moves on and off the stage. The singer-songwriter posted a video of herself stretching on social media that went viral. After Jackson posted the video, fans flocked to support the singer and praised Jackson for her fitness and for showing off her flexibility.

In the video, Jackson goes through various stretches while a group of dancers rehearses in the background.

On Instagram, Jackson captioned the video, “Trying to properly stretch before these rehearsals.”

“JAN YOU BETTER LET EM KNOW YOU STILL GOT IT BOO!!!! I’m 8 years younger and I can’t stretch that good lmao,” a fan wrote on Instagram

“Shoot I can barely do a split,” an Instagram user commented.

Another fan wrote on Instagram, “All great dancers know the importance of stretching before rehearsal. Teach Ms. J!”

“A flexible queen,” one fan commented on Instagram.

Trying to properly stretch before these rehearsals 🤸🏽‍♂️🤣 pic.twitter.com/cgCugvxueV

— Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) June 29, 2022

Even though bodies start to degenerate as you age over 50 like Ms. Jackson, it doesn’t mean that you can’t maintain strength and flexibility as you are getting older. Aging causes different issues, such as a reduction in skin elasticity, stiffer tendons, a loss of muscle tone, and decrease in bone density. All of these issues can be contributing factors that result in a loss of flexibility.

Usually, flexibility problems are noticed in the shoulders and hips first. These parts of the body start to tighten up, and can have a domino effect on other movements throughout the body. These issues become more noticeable with age because flexibility issues contribute to chronic pains and aches.

If you are consistent like Janet, then it’s easier to keep this routine as you age. Don’t worry if you don’t already have a good flexibility routine. You can add these practices into your routine at any age.

How to Stretch as You Get Older

If you want to increase your flexibility, then we recommend that you talk to a fitness expert for personalized advice. Remember that a few small changes can have a noticeable impact on your overall flexibility. Here are a few things that you can do to improve the results you get from a regular stretching routine:

Start Slow: Stretching should be a gentle exercise. Don’t set expectations about how far you should be able to stretch. Instead, be slow and deliberate in your movements to listen to the cues in your body. Find your “edge” – the point where you can feel the stretch without causing any pain or discomfort.

Try Variations: There are many ways to stretch the same muscle groups. Switch things up by trying different types of stretches. Avoid following the same routine. Variety works the muscles in unique ways and helps by decreasing the risk of injury.

Warm Up the Muscles: While stretching is a form of warmup, many people find it beneficial to start moving their muscles gently before stretching. For example, walk for 5 or 10 minutes before stretching your leg muscles.

Don’t Jerk or Bounce: Stretching should be a still, slow movement. It’s safer to stick with smooth, easy motions when you are stretching. Never jerk or bounce to try to get deeper into the stretch.

Focus on Your Breathing: Don’t hold your breath when you are holding a stretch. Instead, visualize your breathing moving into the part of the body that you are stretching. When you continue to breathe, it helps you relax a little more so you can get a better stretch.

Stay Consistent with Your Routine: Make a promise to yourself to maintain a stretching routine. Ideally, you should set aside 10 to 15 minutes for stretching. Hold each stretch for 20 or 30 seconds before moving onto another stretching position. Be consistent about stretching at least 3 to 4 times per week.

Apply Localized Heat: Are there parts of your body that are painful or tight to stretch? You might find it beneficial to place a heating pad on that part of the body before stretching. The heat helps to loosen up the muscles.

Pay Attention to Your Body: Watch for signs that stretching is having a positive impact on your health and wellness. Over time, these habits can significantly improve how you are feeling.

Earlier in 2022, a Janet Jackson documentary premiered on both Lifetime and A&E. During her interview with Essence, Jackson explained what it was like seeing the documentary.

“I realized certain patterns I had in my personal life, in my career. Certain things I never thought about. Five years is a good amount of time to have someone follow you around like that,” Jackson told Essence.

The singer also affirmed that it felt “important for” her to make a documentary about her life.

“For me, it was what it was—whether you liked it or not. It’s my life story and my family. It was important for me to do it, because I had the opportunity to tell my story and not have someone tell it for me. I know I got it right,” she shared.