The reason babies and ballerinas can wrap their legs behind their ears is because they have flexible muscles. Stretching can help you improve your flexibility though most of us won't be able to stretch ourselves into ballerina-like positions.

Stretching is a mellow workout that will improve your flexibility and posture while helping to reduce your tension.

The movements of a stretching workout need not be complicated. You slowly move into a stretch position, then hold it for 10 to 30 seconds or so. You need to include at least one stretch for each major muscle group including your butt, legs, abs, lower back, arms, shoulders and neck.

Stretching can and should be worked into most other workouts, preferably after a warm-up when muscles are more supple and receptive to being stretched.

• Stretching can be done almost anywhere - a plane, a train, at a desk, in bed or while talking on the phone.
  
  
• Stretching regularly loosens you up, improves your posture, reduces tension and soreness and calms you mentally.
  
  
• You don't have to buy a single piece of equipment.
  

• Some people have an easier time with flexibility than others. Runners in particular have an especially hard time getting flexible and staying that way.
  
  
• You won't be doing much to increase strength or lose weight
  
  
• When first starting, you may be frustrated if you've lost some flexibility.
  
  
• It's definitely not a fat-burning activity.