10 Stretches That Will Make You Feel Amazing After

We all know stretching is important for boosting flexibility and preventing injury. But in addition to those body-boosting benefits, stretching also just feels really good, especially since so many of us spend hours at desks, hunched over laptops. Not only that, stretching regularly can help alleviate stress and diffuse the tension caused by any stress you happen to be feeling.

Whether stretching is already an integral part of your health and fitness routine, or you’re looking for a few new stretches to add to the rotation, here are 10 that will make you feel great.

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Cobra stretch

If you’re looking for a stretch with multiple benefits this is a great option and one that is particularly ideal for people who are tied to a desk for long periods of time. Cobra stretch (sometimes called swan stretch or upward facing dog) is one you’ll feel in your shoulders, abs, back, hips and chest. This one feels so good because it helps release tension in the lower back, neck and shoulders, all areas where we tend to get tight.

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Standing quad stretch

When you think about how hard your legs work, even if you’re not a runner, it makes sense that our quads could use some TLC in the form of a stretch. Not to mention, quadriceps are one of our largest muscles and have a tendency to get tight without us even realizing. A standing quad stretch releases that tension and feels great, especially on days where you’ve been standing for long periods or if you’ve just done a leg-heavy workout.

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Standing side stretch

Feel stress melt away after doing a standing side stretch, which gives you a deep stretch on the sides of the body and helps alleviate tightness. You’ll feel this one in your obliques, but also in your chest, neck and armpit region. A standing side stretch feels particularly good after getting out of bed and at the end of a long day. You can also do this stretch in a seated position.

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Downward dog

Those familiar with yoga will know this stretch, which works your entire body. While that might sound like, well, work, doing downward dog will make you feel great afterwards because it relieves stiffness everywhere. The well-known yoga pose also offers a full body stretch, including in the oft-neglected calves as well as the glutes, back, shoulders and hips. Downward dog also helps revitalize your body if you’re feeling fatigued.

Women in studio all in reclined twist pose

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Reclined twist

Twists, whether seated or reclined, are often described as a way to “wring” out the body, which might sound strange, but once you do one (or a few) you’ll understand the comparison – and trust us when we say they feel great. A reclined twist is known to have multiple benefits in addition to just plain feeling good. These include improving digestion, boosting energy, relieving back and neck tension and soothing nerves.

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Standing calf stretch

Calves don’t usually get enough love when it comes to stretching, but as soon as you do stretch them, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing it more often. Calves can get really right because the body relies on them to absorb shock when running, walking, jumping, etc. So if they are tight, they’re not going to be as effective in their job. A standing calf stretch undoes all that tension and once it does, you’ll feel amazing.

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Bridge

This is another stretch with multiple body benefits, in addition to making you feel great. The bridge is known to help alleviate low back pain and you’ll also feel a nice stretch in the hip flexors, which will feel particularly nice if you have tight hips. Bridge also opens the chest and helps to improve flexibility in the hips as well as the spine.

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Cat-cow stretch

Anyone with tension or discomfort in the lower back will want to try the cat-cow stretch, which also soothes tight shoulders and relaxes the whole body making it a particularly beneficial before-bed stretch.

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Forward bend

Whether you’re doing a standing or seated version, forward bends feel as if you’ve let out a big sigh at the end of a long day. They’re relaxing because they can help calm an overworked mind, but a forward bend can also boost flexibility in your lower body. A standing forward bend for example, is a great stretch for hamstrings, hips and calves.

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Wall shoulder stretch

You might not realize it until the tension creeps up on you, but shoulders end up holding onto a lot of tightness. But doing an against-the-wall shoulder stretch can go a long way towards loosening up your shoulders and increasing mobility, which feels a whole lot better than dealing with tense shoulders.