OLD WAY
Stretch after you finish working out.

NEW THINK
Stretch several times during the day.

While those hamstring and quad stretches feel so good when you're done with your run, limiting your limbering up to the end of your workout is a mistake. It's the repetitive activities (or inactivity) of your daily life that can lead to muscle tension and tightness, especially in your neck, back, chest, hips, and hamstrings, which is why you should make it a point to stretch throughout the day. "It counteracts stiffness and corrects flexibility imbalances," says John R. Martinez, a physical therapist in New York City. "It also helps maintain or improve your range of motion, which will keep you healthier and more active in the long run." Try this easy at-your-desk stretch: Place your right ankle over your left knee and clasp your hands behind your hips; pull your shoulders back. Keeping your chest lifted, lean forward from your hips until you feel a stretch across your right glute. Hold for 3 to 5 breaths, then sit up and switch sides.