lotus and abductor stretch (stiffness)

[tomwes]

I can do a full lotus but I have to always have to do other stretches prior to the actual lotus stretch. My knees are always stiff and I can't push them all the way down. It's been 3-4 months since it's been like that. Also for the abductor stretch (the similar to lotus but the palms of your feet are touching and you have to get your knees to the floor), it also takes a lot of warming up for me to have my knees flat (i also have been doing those for a long time). What causes it?

Basically I want to know what is keeping me from doing them right away without warm-ups.

Thanks

[dragon]

Soles of the feet together,knees touching the floor stretches the adductors,not abductors.
Strength/conditioning can play a large part of the starting position in your stretches.If you aren't conditioned,your body will require more "preparation" before you can reach full potential.
Having said that,trying to adopt a full relaxed stretch without warm up is always going to take longer than trying it after a warm up.

Dragon.