An Easy Way to Stretch Your Hamstrings

Doing a seated hamstring stretching with a strap to assist is an excellent way most anyone can use to start getting those big muscles lengthened. When hamstrings are tight, they keep your knee from straightening all the way. Tight hamstrings also reverse the natural curve of your low back, generally contributing to low back pain over time. Doing this stretch is especially important if you sit for large portions of your day. Over time we start to get chair shaped ourselves. This leads to difficulty fully extending the knee or standing up straight, causing one to walk bent over looking at the ground. Your future self will thank you if you start a good daily stretching routine. Hold poses for at least 30 seconds, but 45-60 seconds is ideal for maximum benefit. Avoid using a strap that has any sort of elasticity or give, as this will not be adequate to stretch a tight muscle. Use the video below to follow along with Crystal.

Crystal demonstrating a seated hamstring stretch using a strap.