Most importantly though, getting the muscles warm pre-stretch is also essential because “the colder your muscles are when you stretch them, the lower the load needed in order for them to tear,” explains Minnie, which essentially means you can do more damage more easily.

Regardless of whether you’re stretching as part of a warm-up, yoga class or flexibility session, warming up is crucial. So how do you do that? “If you’re going to a class, try walking there to get the blood flowing around the body a bit more. At home, perhaps try climbing stairs, doing a few jumping jacks or jogging on the spot,” says Minnie.

Then you should do five minutes of dynamic movements that will engage the muscles you’ll be using during your practice. Dynamic stretching is different from the slow stretching you might do in a yoga sequence whereby you hold a posture for a long time. Instead, “it’s about doing repetitive movements where your joints and muscles go through a full range of motion,” says Minnie.

Yoga: why you should warmup before stretching (and the best way to do it)