I can tell you for me personally when I am warmed up....and that is after a really good barre workout. I do some very gentle stretching before barre - but very gently and carefully. Much like Joanne described above. <P> I also am very careful to warm up my back. I stand with my feet together - or first position, and just hang down in front, relax, let gravity do the work, then I roll up slowly thru my spine. I do demi plié, put my hands on the floor and straighten my legs, and roll up through my spine. And then I do small back bends, and side to side stretches. Everything very gentle.<P>I don't feel, for me, that it is really safe to do barre stretches, splits, etc., until after barre.<P>As for the splits you are talking about, Pearl, the best person to help with that - with your alignment in the split - square hips, etc., - is your teacher. She knows your body and she can see what you are doing.<P>