Stretching is soooo important after you workout! You release lactic acid and keep your muscles nice and limber. But if you’re at a loss for how to stretch after your workout, try out the poses below! You can hold each one for 30-60 seconds – whatever feels good to you.
Forward Fold:
Stand with your feet hips width apart and bend at the hips, reaching your hands towards the floor or placing your palms flat on the floor. Stretch into the back of your legs.
Shoulder Opener
From forward fold, interlace your fingers behind your back, straighten your arms, and reach your arms forward. You can bend the knees deeply if your hamstrings are tight.
Pyramid Pose
Step one foot several feet in front of the other with both legs straight and the hips facing forward. Hinge forward at the hips to stretch deeply into the hamstring. Make sure to stretch both sides!
Low Lunge
Come into a lunge with the back knee on the floor and the front knee directly over your ankle. Let the hips relax down towards the floor to release the psoas. Repeat on the other side.
Upward Facing Dog
From plank pose, keep your arms straight and lower your hips towards the floor as you come onto the tops of your feet. Allow the front of the body and abdominal muscles to release.
Sleeping Pigeon
From a seated position, stretch the left leg directly behind you and keep the right leg bent in front of you. Make sure the hips stay parallel! Then slowly lower the torso over your front leg. Stretch into the right hip, and when ready, repeat on the other side.
Reclined Twist
Lie down on your back, then bend one knee to 90 degrees and cross it over your body, allowing the knee to rest on the ground. Reach your arms out to a T and relax your shoulders on the ground. Allow the body to relax in this passive twist.
If some of the poses do not feel good in your body, you can always modify them to get a similar stretch. As long as you remember to make time for your stretches, you will feel amazing!
