Looking for a new leg stretch? This is IT (pun intended)!
Here’s a stretch I learned recently at yoga class that’s really great for your iliotibial band, or IT band. This is the connective tissue on the lateral part of your thigh and knee. It also stretches hamstrings! I have fairly tight IT bands, so this stretch can feel pretty intense but it really helps!
Just cross your legs tightly so your feet are right next to each other and keep your legs as straight as possible. Elongate your spine to bend forward, reaching for the floor. You can reach slightly to one side or the other to see where you feel the greatest stretch. If it is too intense, don’t reach all the way to the ground, just reach until you feel a significant stretch and hold for a while.
Switch the cross of your ankles to stretch the other side!