If your fingertips reach your ankles, you’ve already come a long way, and the floor is genuinely within reach. You might notice the final few centimetres move more slowly than the rest. That’s very common, and once you know why, it’s much easier to stay patient.

You’re still improving, it just shows less

Picture your upper body and arms as the hand of a clock, swinging down from your hips. Early in a fold, a little more bend drops your fingertips a long way. Near the bottom, like a clock hand close to six o’clock, the same extra bend moves your hands more towards your legs than towards the floor.

So the progress you’re making now is just as real as before. It simply shows up as fewer centimetres on your weekly check.

Firmer at the end is normal

Muscles behave a bit like an elastic band. They stretch easily at first, then feel firmer near their full length. That’s why the bottom of a toe touch can feel tighter than the middle.

The reassuring part is that this firmness tends to ease as your body gets used to the position. Research suggests much of the gain in flexibility comes from your body becoming more comfortable with the stretch, and that keeps building with regular practice.

Your nerves are adjusting too

Nerves run down the backs of your legs, and they also lengthen and glide as you fold. That’s healthy and normal. Studies of healthy adults show nerves play a part in how far people can reach, which is why small details help. You could try keeping your feet and toes relaxed as you fold, and easing off a little if you feel a tingly pull.

Your body shape plays a part

Arm, leg and body length all affect reach, which is why researchers adjust reach tests for body proportions. If you have longer legs or a shorter reach, being this close shows you’ve already built good flexibility.

What helps with the last stretch

Many people find a fresh approach helps at this stage. Alongside your usual routine, tense-and-relax stretches and strength work through a full range offer different routes to more range. Both are coming up in this part of the pathway. Keeping your practice steady matters more than pushing harder.

What to take away

• Being at your ankles means the floor is within reach.
• Progress near the bottom shows up as fewer centimetres, but it’s still progress.
• Firmness at the end of your range tends to ease with regular practice.
• Keep your feet relaxed, and ease off any tingly pull.
• Fresh approaches, like tense-and-relax and strength work, can help with the last stretch.

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