The best time to work on your flexibility is after your workout, when your muscles are warm. Not only does static stretching improve our flexibility, it brings our heart rate down, reduces risk of injury and helps prevent tomorrows sore and stiff muscles.
If you want to read more about the benefit of saving your static stretching for the end of your workout, please visit our blog @ soulrunners.club/blog. In the meantime, here is a 2.5 to 5 minute routine for the next time you finish your run. If you want to quickly stretch all the major muscle groups used while running, go through the sequence once holding each pose for 15 seconds. If you really want to work on your flexibility, repeat the sequence 2 to 4 times, holding each pose for 10 seconds.
Routine is as follows Forward Fold. Remember, it’s not about how low you can go. Keep your back flat and focus on how the backs of your legs feel.
Runners Lunge Right Leg. Try not to bounce. Beginners, put your left knee to the ground.
Standing Bent Over Calf Stretch. Keep your back flat and place your hands on your thighs (not on your knees like I did!) Go back to Runners lunge right to transition into Down Dog. Keep your head between your hands, don’t look at your toes. Beginners you can bend your knees here. Repeat on Left side Walk your hands towards your feet and roll up, one vertebrae at a time Quadriceps Stretch Right Leg. Keep your balance by thinking of lifting everything up. Keep your right knee as tight to your left knee as possible. Standing Knee Hug on Right Leg. Continue to lift up. Figure 4 Right Leg. Really push back into your glutes and hips.
Repeat on Left side.
Remember, save your static stretching for the end of your workout. Try this out and let me know what you think! Thanks to @feldeeeb for the edits!