Reclined Calf Stretch

How to do it

Lie on your back. Loop a yoga strap, belt, or towel around the ball of the right foot. Extend the right leg up toward the ceiling, keeping it as straight as you can. Hold the strap with both hands and gently pull the right foot toward you, dorsiflexing the ankle. The left leg stays long on the floor. Hold and breathe, then switch sides.

Why it's good for runners

This is the long-hold version of the calf stretch — relaxed on the floor, with no weight in the calf, just a strap pulling on the foot. The lying-down position takes the calf out of any weight-bearing or balance role, so the calf can actually let go in a way it can't when standing. The right tool for a long, deep release after high-impact training.

Common mistakes

Don't pull the strap so hard that the back of the leg starts to feel pinched or the hip lifts off the floor — gentle is enough, this is a long passive hold. And don't let the lifted knee bend; if it has to bend to keep the strap taut, walk your hands further down the strap.