Lying hamstring stretch
- Basic
- Bodyweight
- Unilateral
Straight leg up, hips on the floor
Muscles worked
- Primary:
- Hamstrings
- Secondary:
- Calves
How to do it
- Lie on your back and loop a towel or band around one foot.
- Raise the straight leg until you feel tension behind the thigh, other leg on the floor.
- Hold while breathing and switch legs.
Common mistakes
- Lifting your hips off the floor.
- Yanking hard all at once.
Tips
- Lying down protects the back compared with a standing stretch.
- Bend the knee slightly if it pulls too much on the calf.