How to Stretch Out Tight Legs

The worst feeling in the world has to be Charley Horses! (Amiright?!)

So the question is how to stretch out tight legs to prevent any leg cramps.

My biggest recommendation to you is to actually take the time to stretch! We all like to slam some pre-workout, get in our workout, then get on with the rest of our day. But our warm-up and cool-down portion of our workouts are just as important. During a workout we bring more blood flow into our muscles, which makes them contract. In turn, we need to take the time to release our muscles and get some oxygen back into them so they can repair.

If you are taking a FITMBS™ class, you will likely have your warm-up and cool-down incorporated into your class. For instance, Coach Tanya includes an inspirational or fun song before and after her POUND® classes to get the body moving and get the feel for some cardio drumming moves. Coach Breanne starts yoga classes with Sun Salutations to warm up the body and ends class in Savasana (corpse pose) to cool-down. More than likely, your coach will lead you through what stretches your body needs for the class.

If you are still tight after a class, or you are looking for some stretches to use at your local gym, there are plenty of techniques to target your legs.

Foam rollers. Seriously, I highly recommend them for your legs! It doesn't cost too much to invest in a standard foam roller, and is totally worth it. With a foam roller, you can roll out your muscles (thinking like a kitchen rolling pin) to elongate those tight muscles. By sitting on the ground, doing one leg at a time. Starting with one calf, moving into hamstrings, rotating prone (on your belly) to roll out the quads.

Go back to the basics. Practice lunges, reach for your toes, hug your knee into your chest. It doesn't have to be a complicated sequence or posture to get a good stretch. So stick to what you know. As long as you are taking the time to slow down to focus in on your muscles (to get that mind-body connection) as you stretch, you will feel so much better in your body.

Don't forget to stretch out your legs! Your body will thank you for it later! If you want more ideas on stretches or foam roller techniques, don't hesitate to reach out to your FITMBS™ coach. Coaches are here to motivate, encourage, and most importantly, make sure that you are safely working out to prevent injury. Keep stretching!