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4 Stretches Guaranteed To Help You Touch Your Toes

Simples. - by Alex Richardson
  • 14 Mar 2019
4 Stretches Guaranteed To Help You Touch Your Toes
Getty

Have you ever noticed how some people are super flexible, even if they don't regularly stretch?  

They can reach forward and place the palms of their hands on the floor, while you are struggling to touch your knees with your fingertips.

Some of us are just inherently stiffer in our muscles and joints than others. Whether you sit at a desk all day or play elite level sport, tight hamstrings are more common than not and can greatly reduce your mobility and make you susceptible to injury. If you suffer from back pain, there is a high chance that your tight hamstrings are not making it any better!

The good news is that with regular stretching your flexibility can improve. In fact, if you do all the right stretches you will notice a difference in your range after just one session. 

The bad news? This won't last long! It's important to regularly stretch and for a decent amount of time.

I am going to show you four really effective hamstring stretches that when done right (and regularly) will help you achieve your goal of reaching your toes. Before you begin, make sure you do a warm up! Your stretching will be much more effective if you do and you also put yourself at risk of an injury if you start stretching cold.

RELATED: How Often Should You Do Pilates To See Results?

Hamstring Stretches

1. Lying down bend + extend with towel - x20 each side

bend
Supplied
bend
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2. Lying down flex and extend foot with towel - x20 each side

flex
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flex
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RELATED: 5 Pilates Ab Exercises You Can Do In 5 Minutes

3. Standing straight leg stretch (squeeze + release your quad muscle) x10 each side 

Note: your front leg must be straight and your back leg must be slightly bent for this
stretch to work. Keep your back super straight throughout the stretch.

straight leg
Supplied
straight leg
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4. Resting squat to pike x20

squat
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pike
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To finish: reach for your toes! Repeat this hamstring stretch series as regularly as you like.

'You can find out more about Duo Pilates here.

RELATED: 4 Pilates Exercises That Will Help You Build A Booty

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Alex Richardson
Alex Richardson
Alex is a Registered Nurse, qualified Pilates Instructor and owner of Duo Pilates. She has a passion for educating and inspiring people to use movement to improve their lives. She believes that in order to train our body the right way, we first need to train the mind to acquire body awareness.

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