Bent-Knee Calf Stretch

Same wall, same staggered stance, one small change: let the back knee bend while the heel stays on the ground. That shifts the stretch lower, into the soleus, the deeper calf muscle beneath the one the straight-leg version reaches. Bring the back foot a little closer than for the straight-leg version and sink your hips and knees toward the wall. Focus on keeping that back knee bent as you lean; if it straightens, you are back to the straight-leg stretch. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds a side; it pairs naturally with the straight-leg stretch, one after the other on each leg.