Bend
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Full Body

A comprehensive routine focused on improving overall flexibility. Move through 20+ stretches targeting key muscles and joints throughout your entire body.

Exercise Overview

Exercise Instructions

Upward Salute demonstration

1. Upward Salute

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
  • Slowly sweep your arms out and up over your head.
  • Keep your hands shoulder-width apart and reach toward the ceiling.
  • Relax your shoulders and look slightly upward.

Tips

  • Ground your feet firmly into the floor and distribute your weight evenly between your feet.
  • Engage your core muscles to avoid arching your lower back.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, place your hands behind your head or on your hips.

Benefits

Abdomen, Chest, Lats, Obliques, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

Toe Touch demonstration

2. Toe Touch

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
  • Keeping your back straight, hinge at your hips to bend forward, lowering your upper body toward your legs.
  • Relax your head, neck, and arms and try to place your palms on the floor.

Tips

  • Focus on lengthening your spine as you fold forward.
  • Keep your legs straight but not locked.

Modifications

  • If you can't reach the floor, place your hands on your shins or thighs.

Benefits

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower Back

Chest Opener demonstration

3. Chest Opener

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart.
  • Clasp your hands behind your head and widen your arms to bring your elbows out and back.
  • Gently squeeze your shoulder blades together and open your chest.

Tips

  • Lower your shoulders and relax your neck.
  • Keep your back and spine straight.

Modifications

  • If clasping your hands behind your head is difficult, use a strap or towel to hold onto.

Benefits

Abdomen, Chest, Shoulders

Wide Leg Bend demonstration

4. Wide Leg Bend

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet wide and your toes pointed forward.
  • Keeping your back straight, hinge at your hips to bend forward, lowering your upper body toward your legs.
  • Relax your head, neck, and arms and try to place your palms on the floor.

Tips

  • Focus on lengthening your spine as you fold forward.
  • Keep your legs straight but not locked.
  • To deepen the stretch, grab your ankles and pull your head closer to the floor.

Modifications

  • If you can't reach the floor, place your hands on your shins or blocks.

Benefits

Calves, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Side Lunge demonstration

5. Side Lunge

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet wide apart.
  • Shift your weight to one side, bending your knee and keeping your other leg straight.
  • Place your hands on the floor and lower your hips until you feel a stretch in your inner thigh.
  • Rotate the foot on your straight leg so your heel is on the ground and your toes are pointed out.

Tips

  • Lift your chest and keep your back straight.

Modifications

  • If the stretch is too intense, don't lower your hips as much.
  • Use a chair or wall for balance support if needed.

Benefits

Calves, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips

Lunge demonstration

6. Lunge

Instructions

  • Start from a kneeling position with your arms at your sides.
  • Step forward with one leg, placing your foot flat on the floor in front of you.
  • Push your hips forward and raise your arms overhead.
  • Lift your chest and reach toward the ceiling.

Tips

  • Keep your front knee stable and align it directly above your ankle.
  • Engage your back leg, pressing the top of your foot into the floor.
  • Keep your torso upright and avoid arching your lower back.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, keep your hands on your front thigh.
  • Place a towel or cushion under your back knee for support.
  • Hold onto a wall or chair for balance if needed.

Benefits

Abdomen, Hips, Lower Back, Psoas, Quadriceps

Upward Dog demonstration

7. Upward Dog

Instructions

  • Start lying on your stomach with your legs extended and your hands under your shoulders.
  • Press your palms into the floor, straightening your arms to lift your upper body and legs off the floor.
  • Lift your chest, relax your shoulders, and look slightly upward.

Tips

  • Only the tops of your feet and your palms should be touching the floor.
  • Keep your arms straight but avoid locking your elbows.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, keep your thighs on the floor.

Benefits

Abdomen, Chest, Psoas, Spine

Child's Pose demonstration

8. Child's Pose

Instructions

  • Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
  • Widen your knees and bring your big toes together so they're touching.
  • Sit back on your heels, then reach forward with your hands and lower your chest toward the floor.
  • Relax your hips and rest your forehead on the floor.

Tips

  • Walk your fingertips forward to increase the stretch.
  • Allow your chest to sink towards the floor.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, don't spread your knees as wide.
  • If your forehead doesn't reach the floor, rest it on a block or folded blanket.

Benefits

Ankles, Feet, Hips, Lower Back, Shins, Shoulders

Downward Dog demonstration

9. Downward Dog

Instructions

  • Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
  • Tuck your toes under, press your palms into the floor, and straighten your arms and legs to lift your hips up and back.
  • Push your chest toward your thighs and your heels toward the floor.

Tips

  • Relax your shoulders and let your head hang between your arms.
  • Distribute your weight evenly between your hands and feet.
  • Keep a slight bend in your knees to avoid hyperextension

Modifications

  • For less intensity, bend your knees more or place your hands on the edge of a chair.
  • To reduce pressure on your wrists, place your forearms on the floor or use a block under your hands.

Benefits

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Shoulders

Thunderbolt demonstration

10. Thunderbolt

Instructions

  • Start from a kneeling position with your knees together and the tops of your feet on the floor.
  • Sit back on your heels with your big toes touching and your heels separated.
  • Place your hands on your thighs with your palms facing down.
  • Sit up tall with your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.

Tips

  • Engage your core to support your lower back.

Modifications

  • If sitting on your heels is uncomfortable, place a cushion or folded blanket between your heels and hips for added support.
  • Place a folded blanket under your knees if you feel any discomfort.

Benefits

Ankles, Feet, Knees, Quadriceps, Shins

Pigeon demonstration

11. Pigeon

Instructions

  • Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
  • Bring one knee forward and place it behind your wrist on the same side, then slide your ankle towards your opposite hip.
  • Extend your other leg straight back behind you while keeping your hips square to the floor.
  • Gently lower your torso over your front leg and rest your forearms on the ground in front of you.

Tips

  • Keep your hips level and avoid leaning to one side.

Modifications

  • Place a folded blanket or block under the hip of the bent leg for support.
  • If folding forward is uncomfortable, stay upright and support yourself with your hands on the floor.

Benefits

Glutes, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, IT Band, Lower Back, Psoas

Seated Twist demonstration

12. Seated Twist

Instructions

  • Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
  • Cross one leg over the other, placing your foot on the floor outside of your opposite thigh.
  • Rotate your torso and place your elbow on the outside of your top knee and your other hand behind you for support.
  • Continue to rotate your torso and turn your head to look behind you.

Tips

  • Lengthen your spine and keep your back straight.

Benefits

Chest, Glutes, Hips, IT Band, Lower Back, Obliques, Spine, Upper Back

Knees-to-chest demonstration

13. Knees-to-chest

Instructions

  • Start lying on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides.
  • Bend your knees and draw them towards your chest.
  • Wrap your arms around your shins and gently pull them closer to your chest.

Tips

  • Relax your head and neck on the floor.
  • Keep your lower back pressed into the floor.

Modifications

  • If you can't reach your shins, wrap your arms behind your thighs.

Benefits

Glutes, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Lying Figure Four demonstration

14. Lying Figure Four

Instructions

  • Start lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  • Cross one ankle over the opposite thigh, just above the knee.
  • Lift your bottom leg off the floor, bringing your knee towards your chest.
  • Reach forward and clasp your hands behind the thigh of your bottom leg.
  • Gently pull your leg towards your chest.

Tips

  • Keep your head and shoulders relaxed on the floor.
  • Keep your lower back pressed into the floor.

Modifications

  • If reaching behind your thigh is difficult, use a strap or towel to assist.
  • For a gentler stretch, keep your bottom foot on the floor.

Benefits

Glutes, Hips, IT Band, Lower Back

Lying Hamstring demonstration

15. Lying Hamstring

Instructions

  • Start lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
  • Lift one leg straight up towards the ceiling while keeping your other foot flat on the floor.
  • Place your hands behind the thigh or calf of your raised leg and gently pull it towards your chest.

Tips

  • Keep your hips and lower back pressed into the floor.
  • Maintain a slight bend in the knee of your raised leg to avoid hyperextension.

Modifications

  • Use a yoga strap or towel looped around your foot if you can't reach your leg.

Benefits

Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower Back

Reclined Butterfly demonstration

16. Reclined Butterfly

Instructions

  • Start lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
  • Bring the soles of your feet together and let your knees fall out to the sides.
  • Place your arms alongside your body with your palms facing up.

Tips

  • Allow gravity to gently open your hips without forcing them.

Modifications

  • Place cushions or blocks under your outer thighs for support.

Benefits

Groin, Hips, Spine

Spinal Twist demonstration

17. Spinal Twist

Instructions

  • Start lying on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides.
  • Bend one knee and place your foot flat on the floor.
  • Gently lower your bent knee across your body towards the opposite side, allowing your torso and hips to twist.
  • Place your opposite hand on the outside of your bent knee and extend your other arm out to the side.

Tips

  • Keep your shoulders flat on the floor.

Modifications

  • If the twist is too intense, place a cushion or block under your bent knee for support.

Benefits

Chest, Glutes, IT Band, Lower Back, Obliques, Spine, Upper Back

Quad Stretch demonstration

18. Quad Stretch

Instructions

  • Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
  • Bend one knee and bring your heel back towards your glutes.
  • Grab your ankle with your hand and gently pull your foot back so it's directly beneath your glute.
  • Slowly lean back to rest on your elbows.

Tips

  • Keep your hips, knees, and ankles aligned.
  • Make sure your foot stays underneath your glute and isn't out to the side.

Modifications

  • If reaching your ankle is difficult, use a strap or towel looped around your foot for assistance.
  • If you experience discomfort in your knee, try performing the exercise while lying on your side.

Benefits

Ankles, Hips, Knees, Lower Back, Quadriceps, Shins

Butterfly demonstration

19. Butterfly

Instructions

  • Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
  • Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together, letting your knees fall out to the sides.
  • Hold your feet with your hands and gently press your knees towards the floor.

Tips

  • Pull your feet up and push your knees down with your elbows to deepen the stretch.
  • Keep your back straight and avoid rounding your spine.

Modifications

  • If your knees are high off the ground, place cushions under your thighs for support.
  • Sit on a folded blanket to raise your hips and improve comfort.

Benefits

Groin, Hips

Seated Fold demonstration

20. Seated Fold

Instructions

  • Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
  • Extend your arms overhead to lengthen your spine.
  • Hinge at your hips and reach forward to grab your toes.

Tips

  • Keep your back flat and avoid rounding your spine.

Modifications

  • If reaching your toes is difficult, place your hands on your shins or use a strap around your feet.
  • Keep a slight bend in your knees if you have tight hamstrings.

Benefits

Calves, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

Plow demonstration

21. Plow

Instructions

  • Start lying on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides.
  • Engage your core and lift your legs towards the ceiling, bringing them over your head.
  • Slowly lower your legs towards the floor behind your head, keeping your hands on your lower back for support.
  • If your feet reach the floor, extend your arms along the floor with your palms facing down.

Tips

  • Keep your legs straight and your toes pointing towards the floor.
  • Keep your neck relaxed and avoid turning your head.

Modifications

  • If your feet do not reach the floor, keep your hands on your lower back for support and hold your legs in a comfortable position.
  • Bend your knees slightly if straightening your legs is uncomfortable.

Benefits

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Neck, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

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