The home stretch

Want to add the final touch to your fitness arsenal? Mobility and flexibility are the key

Want to add the final touch to your fitness arsenal? Mobility and flexibility are the key

Whether a quick cool down is all you can fit in after a workout or you’re ready to start dedicating some serious time to stretching, honing in on flexibility could do more for you than just being able to show off the fact that you can do the splits.

Reaching down and touching your toes once or twice after a run isn’t going to cut it if you want to reap all the benefits of being mobile and flexible though. And according to Lexie Williamson’s new book, The

Stretchingbible, you really do want to reap the benefits. Doing so can help you avoid common injuries such as lower back strain and iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) – we’re looking at you, runners! – as well as boost your performance in the gym and at sports. The Yoga Sports Science-qualified instructor and fitness writer also reckons that stretching will help to improve your posture, release stress and help you to even perform the perfect squat. We’re listening…

The stretching bible is the perfect way for anyone to take their stretching to the next level with proper guidance and a goal in mind. ‘It can be tricky knowing where to start on the road to a strong and supple body,’ Lexie says. ‘The first rule is simplicity; flexibility training doesn’t have to involve complex, pretzel-style yoga poses.’

The sequence on the next few pages can be done post-workout or on its own, and should be repeated three times a week. Since it covers the main muscle groups from the shoulders down to the hips, quads and hamstrings, it’ll benefit any regular gym-goer, whether you’re a weights kind of person or cardio’s more your cup of tea.

Check out the book for more specific ideas, advanced options and other ways to improve.