A Pilates instructor says these four stretches are "better than a massage" for tight muscles

Woman wearing a turquoise vest doing a downward facing dog with one leg raised on an orange exercise mat in a living room setting. there's a breakfast bar and a cream sofa behind her.

Ever had a knot in your shoulder so uncomfortable you thought only a massage could fix it? You might be surprised that a good stretch could provide just as much relief.

Pilates instructor and founder of Pilates By Bel, Annabel Luke, swears by four stretches she says can work just as well—if not better—than a massage.

According to Luke, tight muscles often go hand in hand with a lack of stability and mobility. Her recommended moves aim to address all three by stretching, mobilizing and stabilizing the joints, to relieve tension effectively.