I'm 35. I used to do gymnastics and was very flexible, but then when I got really into long distance running, i lost a lot of flexibility. There was a sweet spot era, in my early 20s, when had both flexibility and endurance - I remember being able to do a full lotus position and almost a splits.
I've retired from long distance running and have been gotten more into resistance training, swimming, and yoga. I'm wondering if yoga is similar to other activities in which you can improve over time. I'm not setting a goal to regain the flexbility of my 18-year-old gymnast self, but I'm wondering how much improvement is possible. I'd like to be able to get into a lotus position again and do more intermediate poses. I'm good with the forward folds but pretty terrible with any of the hip-opening positions like skandasana. Can inner hip and groin flexibility improve or is that something that is irrevocably lost with age?