I did this five-minute yoga routine every day for a month and was surprised at how quickly it improved my flexibility

A woman performs a yoga cobra pose on a rug, while looking at an open laptop. She is lying on her front, with her legs long on the ground, and her torso held upright by her arms. Behind her is a couch with lots of cushions.

"You’re moving very stiffly," my partner pointed out at the end of 2024, as I bent down to tie my shoelace—and he was right. Like many people, I spend hours working at my desk and my muscles are often tight when I clock off.

Stretching usually gets little to no attention in my daily routine. I might squeeze in some guided stretches before and after a workout class or do a back stretch while waiting for my lunch to heat up, but I rarely make the time to do a dedicated flexibility session.