After a tough week of workouts, give your body some love for all that hard work with a lengthy stretching session. Make sure you start with your neck, giving extra attention and time to the places where you're experiencing soreness or tension. Check out the index below to jump to the perfect place easily.
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[Neck] [Arms] [Shoulders] [Back] [Glutes] [Quads] [Hamstrings] [Calves] [Feet]
— Additional reporting by Susi May
This gentle stretch targets the sides of your neck.
Use your hands to offer a deep stretch for the back of your neck and your upper back.
This standing stretch can be done anywhere and will offer a deep stretch in the sides of your neck.
This is a great stretch if you have knee issues or if you'd rather recline than stand up.
Here's a relaxing stretch for your neck and shoulders that can also help relieve headaches and drowsiness.
This tangled arm position stretches the rounded muscle that covers the shoulder joint.
This simple stretch will lengthen the muscles on the back of the upper arm.
This sassy position stretches the group of small muscles that wrap around the shoulder joint.
Open up your chest one side at a time.
Stretch through the front of your neck, chest, and shoulders with this relaxing heart opener.
This classic yoga pose works to relieve stress while stretching your spine, chest, and neck.
Stretch your lower back and glutes with lying knee tucks.
If your back feels strained from this, place your feet on the floor with bent knees and rotate your knees back and forth, keeping your feet on the ground.
Release tension in your hamstrings and hips with this common stretch. If it is difficult for you to swing your leg up to the above position, start on your hands and knees, then extend your back leg in the lunge position.
Modified Pigeon will bring a big release to tight glutes and hip flexors.
Give your glutes a serious stretch with this move.
This gentle twist offers relief to your spine and glutes.
This seemingly simple move offers a big stretch to your backside.
This basic quad stretch can be done anytime, anywhere.
For a slightly different effect from the standing and reclined stretches, this kneeling quad stretch loosens the muscles right above your knee especially well.
This stretch opens up hamstrings while loosening up tight shoulders.
Easy to do anywhere and safe for injured backs, this hamstring stretch is great if you're really tight.
If the previous stretch isn't deep enough for you, then try this variation. It's perfect for doing on a bench after a run in the park.
This basic stretch is perfect for targeting one leg at a time.
This stretch targets both hamstrings as well as the lower back.
Here's a relaxing way to stretch one hamstring at a time:
Make the most of a wall to give your calves a nice deep stretch.
This stretch is a great multitasking stretch that opens the shoulders as well as the calves.
Try this simple stretch for your calves that uses a towel or band for extra resistance.
Try this common yoga pose for a calf stretch. The more weight you press into one leg, the more of a release you'll feel in your bent leg.
This is one of the easiest stretches to do as soon as you finish a run. If you have weak Achilles tendons, do the variation using a wall instead of a ledge.
This weight-bearing move works the muscles that support the front of the ankle but leaves tired feet feeling invigorated.
Prevent inflammation, scar tissue, and inflexibility in your feet with this simple and effective stretch.