By accident, I found a good stretch for hamstring/buttuck muscles that is very easy to perform. Siting in a chair, put right leg over left leg, right above knee, bend forward and hold. Repeat for other leg. It really gives your hamstring a good stretch, one side at a time and feels oh-so-good when you are sore there (e.g. I have been running). This is easier then the traditional runner's stretch of laying flat on your back, lifting each leg to 90 degrees and holding. Do both of these stretches target the same group of muscles in the hamstring area? I do not know a lot about muscle groups and the interactions between them with regards to stretching so I am going to research that.

That sounds like a really good stretch, and I'm going to try it...but I have a question. Do you know a good, gentle stretch for quads and inner thighs? I somehow did a number on myself with the elliptical yesterday and two exercise videos after. I have been doing water aerobics for a few months now and never hurt myself like this, so I've decided that I'm a mermaid and will only work out in the water from now on. But I'm sitting here with a heating pad on my legs and I just want to get back to walking without looking like I'm dying.

Fiddleman, I know this is an old post...I just found it. Usually, in order to stretch the hamstrings the knee must be extended. What you're describing does sound like a really good stretch for the iliotibial band and gluteus. I have to stretch those after every run.