I’ve been recommending a lot of free workout instructors on YouTube lately, from Pilates to cycling, but that’s only part of the equation: Before (and maybe after) any of those classes, you need to stretch. Why not turn to YouTube for some guidance there, too? As long as you know what to avoid when you’re looking for guided exercises on there, YouTube does a great job of standing in for paid subscription sites like Peloton or Les Mills+. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Peloton’s guided stretches—but if you’re not using that app, the ones below are excellent free substitutes.
The Ready State
I like the Ready State channel because it comes from a real-life physical therapist whose goal is to help “everyday athletes and human beings enjoy better movement, agility, and strength.” Sometimes, YouTube classes can feel like they’re geared toward the coolest, fittest people in the world, but these feel accessible and useful.
The nice thing here is that these videos are more educational than they are guided. What I mean by that is you learn about stretching, how to do it, what it’s really for, and why it matters while you learn the stretches themselves. Science-backed and functional, I recommend this channel as a starting point before moving on to other programs on the platform.
Mady Morrison
I, like nearly 4 million subscribers, enjoy Mady Morrison‘s videos for a few reasons. First, they’re just calming, both in terms of what’s asked of you and in terms of production. Soft music, gentle stretching, and chill vibes are what you can expect here. Second, though she lacks the verbal cues I usually associate with quality instruction, Morrison’s videos have plenty of on-screen direction. You can clearly see what she’s doing, the stretches are labeled on the screen, and production quality is high so you’re never guessing about anything.
Bear in mind that in videos where she does talk or use voiceovers, she’ll be speaking in German. It’s not super distracting to me, since I can follow along easily with what she’s demonstrating on the screen, but if it’s going to throw you off, be warned.
Tom Merrick
Tom Merrick, who goes by The Bodyweight Warrior to his 1 million subscribers, is often pointed to on stretching and fitness forums as someone who knows what he’s doing and has solid YouTube videos. His routines come in a variety of lengths and levels, so whether you’re a beginner looking for a 12-minute stretch or a little more advanced and looking for something longer, there’s something here for you.
He speaks clearly as he demonstrates the movements and offers up the occasional reminder not to push yourself too far, giving suggestions for adaptations and adjustments so you can do exactly what feels comfortable and efficient for you.
Maddie Lymburner
Maddie Lymburner, a.k.a. @MadFit, has a ton of video styles available on her channel, where she has nearly 11 million subscribers, but you’ll want to navigate to the stretching playlist for our purposes here. There, you’ll find a lot of very specific stretch routines, each with a different length, focus, and purpose. For instance, see above for a 12-minute stretch that you can do right at your desk.
While there’s no on-screen text or anything fancy, you do get direct, clear instruction and well-shot clips so you can follow along easily.
