a stretch that will help correct that is, place a pillow on the floor. stand on your right leg, and stand up against a wall or door. bend your left to your butt as if you were stretching out your quads, then slide down the wall until your left knee is on the pillow. then try to lean backward so your back is on the wall. that'll train your legs to be stretched backwards, not out to the side :)
The scorpion cheerleading stunt takes an incredible amount of flexibility and balance.
The following exercises and stretches will help you get close to your goal of performing the scorpion. Remember to always warm your muscles up before exerting your body in any serious stretching.
The first great stretch to do (and this will probably yield the highest success rate) is the splits. The leg that you will be pulling up into the scorpion should be behind you with that leg’s knee facing the ground. The leg that you will be balancing on will be in front of you with the knee facing up and your toes pointed up as well. Finally, lean back into your split and gently arch your back. The next step in the split is to continue to lean the body back with you body tilted a little to the side and grab your ankle that is behind you. Slowly bend your knee and raise your calf to your head while leaning back. The goal of this stretch is to eventually get you foot to touch your head.
Try using a stunt strap, dog leash, anything that has a loop at both ends (one to put your foot through and the other to grab with you hand and pull up). Make sure that it is strong enough and that it will not snap while stretching. Put your foot that will be going behind your head through one loop and take you’re hand that that is on the same side of the body as the leg going behind your head and grab the other loop. Start pulling your foot towards your head with the pulling device. This is a great way to train for the scorpion because you not only stretch out muscles, but this stretch helps build muscles in the other leg for balancing. If you are having trouble balancing, use a wall to help stabilize your muscles.
Having a coach or fellow cheerleader stand by to help you stretch can also yield good stretch techniques. Try facing a wall and press your palms against it. Bend the leg going behind your head and have your partner slowly push it towards your head as high as it will possibly go.
Backbends are also important for stretching. Flexibility in the back muscles are ideal for the stretch, but are often forgotten. Also keep in mind that when you are finally performing the stunt, that it is not your hands that are pulling you into the scorpion, rather your hands are merely a guide for the leg that is lifted behind the head. This will help you lift your leg into a higher stance and make a “tear drop” appearance.
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Hmm. I have kind of the same problem with my scorpions. One of my legs are more flexible than the other and it's hard for me to do a scorpion on that leg. But, just keep stretching the less flexible leg as much as you can, don't pull a muscle though. What helps me is laying on my back and touching my feet to my head, then I stand up and try to work into my scorpion.
do back bends a lot and when you do them make sure that u try to get your legs straight and keep up with stretching or you will slowly lose your flexibility. Also when you are trying to pull your needle try grabbing your leg lower towards your knee it helps a lot.
