6 Best Yoga Stretches to Do Every Day to Ease Stiffness and Pain
Downward Dog
A popular yoga stance, this is a great morning stretch. Open your shoulders, hamstrings, calves, and foot arches. Shoulders and upper back are strengthened with down dogs.
Child's Pose
This restorative yoga stance opens the shoulders and can be used to recover between harder poses. Return anytime, but don't stall. Feel like you're reaching across the room for maximum benefit.
High Lunge and Warrior I
Lunges are great for making your hips and knees strong and flexible. The front of the hip flexors and the shoulders can both be opened up with the high lunge and Warrior 1.
Triangle Pose
Your hips, hamstrings, calves, chest, shoulders, and spine will all feel stretched in this standing exercise. It also helps your knees, legs, and ankles get stronger.
Warrior II
This stance boosts leg and arm strength and stamina. Fun fact: All warrior poses (Virabhadrasana in Sanskrit) are named after Shiva incarnations. This warrior had 1,000 heads, 1,000 clubs, and always wore tiger skin.
Mountain Pose
Mountain Pose may feel like standing. But done intentionally, it's a terrific method to rest between poses and improve posture. Even your abs and butt can firm!