How do you do a split without hurting yourself?

How do i do a split without my leg hurting?

• for 3 years ive done a side split every night before i went to bed (or at least tried to) just recently i got it down to 3 inches off the ground and so i just decided to go all the way and i was able to do a full split all that night. but the next day my leg was hurting really really bad and i went up to about 4 inches off the ground and my legs were hurting like motha freakas and so i just stretched it like for a longer time (10 minutes) the next few days my legs started hurting more and more and i started to be able to strech less i really want to be able to do a split!! no one in my family has been able to for 7 generations known!! please i want to break this family curse

• Answer:

  It all has to do with how flexible you are. Try doing some other stretches for a few days and don't try to push your self down to far you probably hurt a muscle and it will be sore for a while.