Standing Toe Touches

What it is

This static stretch involves bending at your waist and allowing your upper body to relax towards your toes. It is designed to lengthen and improve flexibility in your hamstrings. You will also feel a beneficial stretch in your calves as you hold the position. This exercise requires no equipment.

Technique tips

• Ensure your legs remain straight throughout the stretch.
• Focus on hinging from your hips, not rounding your spine excessively.
• Let gravity assist; relax your neck and shoulders completely.
• Breathe deeply and calmly to help deepen your stretch.
• Do not bounce into the stretch; hold gently for the prescribed duration.
• Feel the stretch primarily in the back of your thighs.

How to track your progress

Log the hold time of each set. Straddly keeps your best hold for this exercise and tells you when you beat it, so a two-second gain does not go unnoticed.