Disclaimer: These stretches are for general audiences and are not intended to be used as medical advice. Consult your doctor or medical professional before beginning any exercise program or routine.

College life isn’t exactly kind to your body. From desk slouching, late-night cramming, endless scrolling, long periods of sitting down, paired with high stress to low-sleep levels — Your body’s been whispering “help.” Find a moment to reconnect, breathe deeper and gently bring your body back into balance. These five stretches are a gentle way to reset and feel limber again.

1. Knee to chest

Lay flat on your back with one leg straightened, then grab your shin or the back of your leg. Pull your knee to your chest, targeting the hips and lower back muscles. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat for the other leg.

2. Child’s pose

Start by kneeling on the floor. Next, lower your torso, keeping it parallel to the ground. Extend and rest your arms in front of you, aligning your biceps at ear level. For a better stretch, push your hips back, allowing the spine to lengthen while releasing tension in the hips. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds.

3. Seated piriformis stretch

Begin by sitting down in a chair. As you anchor your ankle to the top of your knee, use one elbow to push the knee down while maintaining a neutral spine position. Slowly lean forward at the hips until you feel a stretch in the glute muscles and the hips, then hold for 20 to 30 seconds.

4. Pectoral door stretch

Stand in a doorway and place your forearm against the doorframe so that your elbow is at a 90-degree angle and in line with your shoulder. Step one foot forward, through the doorway and gently shift your weight until you feel a stretch across your chest and the front of your shoulder. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side.

5. Standing oblique stretch

Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms extended overhead. Clasp your hands or keep them shoulder-width apart. Slowly lean to one side, reaching your arms over while keeping your hips grounded and facing forward. You should feel a gentle stretch along the side of your torso. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, then switch sides.

Editor’s note: Greg Fontanilla is a former collegiate athlete, long-time sprint coach and is a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

• The first two images were removed from the story due to copyright concerns on Tuesday, May 6 at 11 a.m. 
• The rest of the images were removed from the story due to copyright concerns on Tuesday, May 6 at 1:27 p.m.