This is an active recovery workout. Keep the effort light and focus on releasing the tension your muscles may have. The idea here is that we need to warm up the muscles before stretching them. Stretching cold muscles isn't as efficient as stretching warm muscles. About 30 seconds each exercise. For stretches that need to switch sides (eg Hamstring stretch), plan 30 seconds each side.
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Bring your knees up to waist level. Keep a slow, steady pace
This is the lower impact version of a Jumping Jack. Instead of jumping, extend one leg to the side as you raise your arms above your head. Return to starting position and repeat other side.
Now make the circle bigger. Like before, about half-way through the exercise, reverse directions.
With your arms on your hips, feet shoulder-width apart, slowly roll your neck. About half-way through the exercise, reverse direction.
Grab one arm above your elbow with your opposite hand. Pull your arm across your body toward your chest until you feel a stretch in your shoulder and a little in your upper back. Hold for about 30 seconds. Release and repeat other side.
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and swing your outstretched arms across your chest. Alternate which arm is on top on each swing.
Stand with your feet stacked under your hips. Look up, reach for the sky, then slowly bring your elbows down and bring your shoulder blades together. You should feel the stretch in your chest. Really take big, deep breaths to help with this stretch.
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Reach your right arm to the ceiling keeping your shoulder down (away from your ears). Bending at the elbow, let your right hand drop to the middle of your back, palm facing your back. Reach your left hand over and place your fingers on your right arm, just above the elbow, applying light pressure to deepen the stretch. Hold for 30 seconds then repeat other side.
Start in standing position. Bring up your knee and when you reach the top, kick out your leg. Place your foot back down and then repeat other leg.
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Step to the side with your right leg and touch the right foot with your left hand. Return to the starting position and repeat the movement with the left leg.
Stand up tall with feet shoulder width apart. Lift your left foot up and grab it with your left hand, maintain your balance. Pull the left foot toward your butt until you feel the stretch in your quads. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds and repeat with the other leg.
Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and place your hands behind the head. Start bending at the hips, pushing your hips back and bend over to near parallel. Imagine your center of gravity (about the middle of your sternum) is going straight up and down. Return to the starting position. Repeat.
Start on all fours, stacking your hands directly under your shoulders and stacking your knees under your hips. Inhale while raising your head and gently curving your back. Do not over exaggerate this movement, do not try to make your vertebrae touch. Exhale while dropping your head and pulling the abs in, arching your back and neck. Repeat.
This is a good stretch for the abdominals. Stretch comfortably and do not try to force this stretch; protect your spine.
Get down on your hands and knees, with your wrists stacked under your shoulders and your knees stacked under your hips. Gently straighten your legs, lifting your glutes to the ceiling. Return to the starting position. Repeat.
Lie flat on your back and bend both knees. Cross the left leg over the right and bring both knees toward your chest. Gently pull the right leg toward you until you feel a stretch in your glute. Hold for 30 seconds. Release and repeat other side.
Lie on your back and lift your right leg as close to perpendicular to the ground as you can. Place your hands just below your knee and gently pull your thigh toward your chest until you feel a stretch in your hamstrings. Hold for 30 seconds. Release and repeat other side.
Sit down on the floor and bring both feet together. With the help of your arms, gently push your knees down towards the floor. Breath steadily and keep your spine straight.