How to do the standing double leg stretch

This is an animated stretching tutorial for the standing double leg stretch. Use the controls to pause, slow down and follow along with detailed step-by-step text instructions that match up with each movement. This instructional fitness stretching video is incredibly in depth and a great guide for learning the standing double leg stretch.

How to do a Standing Double-Leg Stretch

In this lesson you will learn how to do a standing double-leg stretch. This exercise stretches the hamstrings and the knees. Most people prefer the standing double-leg stretch, but actually the seated variation of this stretch is better for the knees and the back.

Description: Standing Double-Leg Stretch

* Stand upright and fully extend your knees. The legs are closed. Then hollow your back and bend forward down towards the floor. Reach for the floor or put your hands on your thighs without rounding your back. This is not about bringing your hands close to the floor or the head close to the legs. It looks nice if your head touches your shins, but actually the stretch comes from the angle between the lowest segments of your spine and your thighs. Raise your head a little. So if you extremely hollow your back but keep the angle between lower spine and legs small, the stretch can be more intensive than when you round your back and the hands touch the floor.
* Breath slowly and concentrated. This stretch static passive: Only when you have reached the point where your hands touch the floor and you rest in this position.

Trainer advice: Standing Double-Leg Stretch

* Warm up your legs before you do this stretch.
* A little trick: Don't fully extend your arms when you lower your hands. This way it's easier to remember that this is not about touching the floor. If you round your back, you mess up the whole exercise and it also becomes difficult to breath.