- Flexibility is not something you can schedule in for a couple of intensive sessions - you must give a little bit of time to it every day.
- The best way to stretch is through constant pressure, never bouncing.
- Try to hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds, and work up to about a minute.
- Push yourself to attempt difficult stretches, but don't get to the point of pain.
- Avoid spending all your time on the stretches you can already do well - we're all tempted to stick to the comfortable, but you want to ensure that you're comprehensively flexible.
- Draw up a list of stretches to do, starting with your feet and working all the way up to your neck.
- Be sure to spend some time on all the major muscle groups, such as your calves, quads, hamstring, groin, triceps, and traps.
- A fantastic way to stretch your entire body without injuring yourself is to start taking yoga classes. We have a couple tips here to help you find one.
- A great tip for making stretching easier is to focus on your breathing - many of us are tempted to hold our breath while doing something physically demanding, but all exercise is improved by circulating oxygen and relaxing, both of which are aided by careful breathing.
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