Close Ad

Why You Need to Incorporate the 'World's Greatest Stretch' Into Your Routine
People stretching on steps
Exercise

Why You Need to Incorporate the 'World's Greatest Stretch' Into Your Routine

Stretching is often seen as a necessary evil of physical exercise.

It doesn’t improve your cardio, build muscle, or enhance your diet. Often, it just feels like a waste of time.


people-stretching-on-stepsHowever, overlook the importance of stretching, both as a warm-up and especially as a cool-down (that’s really where stretching counts), and you’ll find yourself regretting it when an injury hits you out of nowhere.

That’s why WGS or the “World’s Greatest Stretch” is so great. The stretch is known to professional trainers and elite athletes alike for its ability to target every major muscle group in the body -- in a single stretch. It takes that pre- or post- stretch and not only optimizes it, but simplifies the whole thing.

That’s reason enough to incorporate WGS into your routine, but why else is it so legendary?

Even if you don't have time for a big workout, stretching in the morning and night really changes your body.

– Erin Heatherton

In addition to targeting every major muscle in the body, WGS includes both static and dynamic movements and positioning. That means it “activates” the central nervous system, creating new connections between the brain and body that help improve your workouts by more reliably activating muscles when they’re needed, along with reducing injury.

How to perform the ‘world’s greatest stretch’

So, how do you perform this legendary stretch? The steps are pretty simple:

  1. Lunge forward with your right leg until the knee of your left leg is almost flat with the floor, then touch your hands to the floor to the left of (inside) your right leg.
  2. Maintaining your lunge, rotate your upper body while lifting your right arm up as if you’re trying to touch the sky. Lower your right arm back down to its original position (you can repeat the same with the left arm if you’d like).
  3. Next, lower your left knee to the ground while maintaining a straight posture (this helps stretch your quads and hip flexors).
  4. And lastly, extend your right leg while leaning back to shift your body weight, which helps stretch your calves and hamstring muscles.

Make sure to hold each position for three-to-five seconds, and move through the entire stretch at least three times on each side, alternating each time (a total of six times, three times on each side).

We know that text instructions for physical movements can be tough to follow for some, so we’ve included an assortment of the best Youtube videos showing different variations of the world’s greatest stretch:

World’s Greatest Stretch video examples

Here are three great video examples of WSG in action, each with a slightly different twist on the exercise to show you various different ways you can implement it into your own routine and make it your own:

1. Basic example

This first example is clear and straightforward. The trainer doesn’t stretch both arms in the example, however, if you’re alternating between both sides it’s not necessary.

2. World’s greatest walking stretch

Another version of WSG, this variation has the user lunging forward after each raising-arm stretch. This version is great for runners and anyone who uses their legs actively.

3. World’s greatest plank?

This is a powerful variation as the trainer begins in a planking position as opposed to standing, great for anyone looking to build strength naturally.

Hot Stories

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
ideas and thinking

bright ideas

The 21st century has brought great new opportunities for entrepreneurs. The digital revolution has completely changed the way we live -- and the landscape for aspiring CEOs and innovators.

powerful-business-woman

Keep ReadingShow less
Entrepreneurs
Sad woman arms on face
woman crying on a beach

While life is beautiful in so many ways, it is also filled with struggles and obstacles. We can’t truly appreciate happiness without experiencing some sort of pain.

Pain is inevitable. No matter how much we try to prevent bad things from happening, life will strike. Maybe you will have to face grief, betrayal or a broken heart. These experiences can tear you down in unspeakable ways. Some of them will cause so much pain that you’ll do anything that comes to mind to avoid it or feel a bit of joy, even if just for a few seconds.

Keep ReadingShow less
Authors