Ahh, I feel relaxed just looking at this picture. If you feel stressed out, depressed, or have a splitting headache, give this a try. Not only will it instill a sense of calmness, but it'll give you a slight release in your lower back and a stretch for your hamstrings.
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Are the backs of your legs tight? It is important for the health of your back, hips and knees to keep your hamstrings flexible. Here are five easy stretches for you to use as you lengthen the muscles on the back of your thighs.
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I love stretches that you can feel over your entire body, and while this is mostly a move you'll feel in your chest and shoulders, you'll also feel this in your hamstrings and lower back. It's a great one to add to your stretching repertoire.
To learn how to do this stretch .
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Doing deep stretching before a run isn't a great idea because you're not totally warmed up and could end up tearing a muscle. In lieu of this I like to do a little light stretching, just to wake up my muscles before a long workout.
Here's a gentle stretch to try that I'm sure you've done a million times, but if you do it while tying your sneaks, it's a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
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We're up to the second pose in the Standing Hand to Big Toe series. In Standing Hand to Big Toe A, your leg is straight out in front of you, giving you an amazing hamstring stretch. This next one, B, has your lifted leg out to the side, so it feels amazing in your hips.
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Many yoga poses stretch out your hips and hamstrings, so after a while, you can use the flexibility you achieve to do more difficult poses. This one stretches the backs of both legs, while challenging your sense of balance at the same time.
Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose A
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe A
To give it a try .
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When you're new to yoga, balancing poses offer an excellent challenge. On your first attempt you may end up falling over, but once you learn to focus your drishti (your gaze), you'll be able to balance on one leg for a long, long time – or at least five breaths. The Dancer pose stretches your shoulders and chest, increases flexibility in your hips and spine, and is also an amazing hamstring stretch for your standing leg.
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In Ashtanga yoga, although there are technically four Wide-Legged Forward Bend poses, sometimes I've been to classes where the instructor throws in a fifth — Wide-Legged Forward Bend E. This pose is great for stretching your hips, hamstrings, and inner thighs.
Sanskrit Name: Prasarita Padottanasana E
English Translation: Feet Spread Intense Stretch Pose E
Also Called: Wide-Legged Forward Bend E or Wide-Legged Split
You definitely don't have to go down this far.
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We're finally up to the last wide-legged forward bend pose in Ashtanga Yoga, Wide-Legged Forward Bend D. If you do all four in a row, A, B, C, and D, your hamstrings, hips, and lower back will feel amazingly stretched and open. It's a great series of stretches to do after a run if your lower body gets really tight.
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As I've said before, I love to do a few stretches on the treadmill after a run. If you feel funny about it, you can always do this stretch while leaning on a chair. This will open your quads, your hip flexors, and your shoulders.
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