5 stretches for your whole body

Stretching can help you lead a healthy life and reduce stress. Here are some stretches that will leave you feeling relaxed from head to toe.

This stretch is great for the muscles and joints in your back, shoulders, sides (obliques), abdominals and hands.

• Stand straight with your feet about hip-width apart.
• Extend your arms overhead so that your fingers point straight at the ceiling.
• Rise on the balls of your feet and spread your fingers, stretching upward to make your body as long and tall as possible.
• Tilt your chin slightly to look at the ceiling.
• Hold, then slowly return to the starting position.

This exercise stretches your chest, arms and wrists.

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent for support.
• Keep your back straight and your chin level.
• Slowly extend your arms up and to the sides until they're just below shoulder level.
• With your palms facing forward, gently stretch your arms behind you.
• When you've pulled back as far as comfortably possible, bend your wrists back until you feel a stretch in the front of your upper arms.
• Hold, then slowly return to the starting position.

The wall stretch works your calves, hamstrings, back and shoulders.

• Stand 0.5 metres (about 1 foot) away from a wall and place your hands on it, shoulder-width apart.
• Move your feet back until you're leaning into the wall and you feel a gentle stretch in your calves.
• Slowly press your hips back, keeping your back straight, and press your heels into the floor so that you feel a stretch in your back as well as your calves.
• Hold, then slowly return to the starting position.

This stretch works your sides (obliques), inner thighs, hamstrings and neck.

• Stand with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart and point your right foot forward and your left foot to the side.
• Extend your arms straight out to the sides at shoulder level, then bend to the left, reaching for your left shin with your left hand.
• Extend your hand as far down your leg as comfortably possible while reaching toward the ceiling with your right hand.
• Turn your head slightly to look at the ceiling.
• Hold, then return to the starting position and repeat, stretching to the opposite side.

The sit-back stretches out your hips, buttocks and thighs.

• Stand straight and place your hands on a chair back or tabletop for support.
• Raise your right leg and place your right ankle on your lower left thigh, just above the knee.
• Bend your left leg, move back slightly, as if starting to sit, and gently press your right knee toward the floor. This should cause you to feel a stretch in your right hip and the back of your thigh.
• Hold, then slowly return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.

Practice these stretches to help you feel relaxed from head to toe.