If you love stretching, here are some tips and links to help you stretch the right muscles the right way.

General Tips for Stretching

• Don't use stretching as a pre-workout warm-up. This practice has been thoroughly debunked by research. To warm up your muscles, do a light version of whatever activity you'll be doing. (For example, if you'll be running, do a light, easy jog for a while.)

• Don't stretch your muscles when they're stone-cold.

• Stretch until you feel a slight, pleasant pull on the muscles(s), and hold for at least 15 seconds. An easy way to measure out about the right minimum time is to stretch while taking three deep belly breaths.

• Don't bounce!

• Pay attention to your body and what it's telling you--if it hurts, stop!

• Remember to keep breathing during the stretch.

Stretching Exercises and Routines
Here are some link that demonstrate or explain stretches for particular muscles and muscle groups:

• All major muscle groups

• Stretches particularly for office workers

• Specific stretches for the back

• Specific stretches for the neck

• Specific stretches for the piriformis (external hip rotator) muscle

• And for variety, another general stretching routine

• And yet another

And finally, here are some muscles that you just can't stretch no matter how hard you try!

And click here for more information about dynamic stretching, an alternative to static stretching.