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Fresh out of a leg-day workout? Heavy squats and deadlifts can leave you feeling so badass, but they’ll probably also make you pay big time when the muscle soreness hits later.
That’s where leg stretches come in. As a 200-hour certified yoga teacher, I often explain to students that stretching can help alleviate the intense soreness that makes it hard to walk downstairs after leg day and can also increase flexibility, which can help prevent injury when you lift next time. Plus, stretching right after you finish an intense workout helps lower your heart rate and reduce stress.
After your leg workout, don’t wait until later to do these leg stretches. Push out that last rep, slip off your sneakers, unroll a yoga mat, and do these stretches that target your hamstrings, glutes, quads, calves, shins, hips, and lower back. They’ll feel so good, even if you only have time for a few minutes.
Best part? You don’t have to save these leg stretches for after your workout, either. Do them on a recovery day, before bed, or whenever you’re feeling tight. Pick a few of your favorite hamstring stretches, quad stretches, and calf stretches, or do all 18 to keep your muscles supple.
Post-Workout Leg Stretches
Here’s a list of the best leg stretches. Keep scrolling to see them all, or click on the name of the stretch to jump to it.