Although sticking around for your post-workout stretch is always a good idea, a quick quad pull isn’t going to cut it if you want to see real results.

“To maintain our flexibility, it’s not just a case of stretching our hamstrings. It’s sensible to take a holistic approach,” says yoga and pilates teacher Angie Newson. “Our muscles need to be flexible, limber and strong so general mobilising first thing in the morning to warm the body, followed by a simple stretching routine, will wake up the fascia (the connective tissue that surrounds our organs, muscles and blood vessels) and muscles for the day ahead. In addition, it raises energy levels, increases the range of joint movement and gets the blood pumping.

After working out, it’s a great feeling to lengthen the muscles to enhance flexibility, promote healing and prevent injury – rather than leaving them pumped up and shortened. As a daily routine, start by moving the spine in all its directions, to warm up the body from your tailbone to your neck, while stretching your hips and your leg muscles to prevent back pain. Move on to your limbs and extremities, remembering that wrists, hands, ankles and feet need to be stretched as well.”

By incorporating short bursts of stretching into our everyday life, Suzanne assures us that it will soon become second nature. “Having the right attitude is really important for making sustainable and healthy changes that will get us results that last for a long time. Approaching our body as a helpful coach rather than a bully may help us to remember that the body only changes when it feels safe, and forcing ourselves beyond a healthy range of motion (i.e. causing pain) is much more likely to lead to injury than flexibility. I recommend doing a stretching session at least three times a week, either after your workout or at any time of day – except the 40 minutes before exercise.”

Adding resistance to your stretching sessions strengthens you at the same time, but also engages more of your body – and therefore has a benefit on a much wider area than when you set out to stretch one muscle. Some people prefer static stretching, where you reach as far as you can and hold. Although it can improve range of motion, I feel that you miss out on challenging your tissues which is part of what helps to keep them hydrated and elastic.”

Stretching: 3 easy stretches to improve your flexibility