Stretching can sometimes feel like an unrewarding task. Every single day, you lengthen your legs to touch your toes and yet it doesn’t feel like you get any closer to looser hamstrings.

If you really want to improve your range of motion, then just reaching into a stretch might not be enough. Instead, a technique called PNF stretching has been shown to support your body into deeper positions so you can really feel the release.

What is PNF stretching?

Standing for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, PNF sounds pretty complicated. Really, it means contracting and relaxing the muscle while stretching. The aim is to trigger the nerve that allows the muscle to calm and stretch in order to move deeper into postures while preventing injury.

Essentially, it’s about engaging the nervous system with the muscles, as the name suggests.

PNF stretching is the best way to improve your mobility and flexibility