Best way to stretch the calves?

My calves are always so tight and I really don't know any super great ways to stretch them before and after a workout. The tightness is, of course, causing issues in my workouts... so I need a fix soon! :)

Any ideas?

Have you tried the calf stretch in the 'workout center' section of this site?

Click on 'basic streches' under the 'Flexibility, Yoga ...(etc)' section.  There's a calf stretch based on the 'downward dog' yoga position.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to explain this right, but it's a GREAT stretch.

Stand at a wall so that your toes touch it, a counter will work too. Put your foot up on the wall as if you were going to step up on to it and lean in. The higher on the wall you put your toes the more stretch.

Hope I explained it well enough.

If you are having chronic issues with tight calf muscles, the problem may be bigger than stretching before a workout will solve. My trainer advises foam rolling before every work out to loosen and warm muscles while removing knots. Takes a little more time than stretching but will help you loosen and lengthen calf muscles in the long term.  A foam roller can be picked up at any sporting goods store.

Get a full-sized bath towel.

Sit on the floor and put your leg straight out in front of you.

Grasp the ends of the towel with both hands and put the ball of your foot in it, like a stirrup.

Keep your leg straight, and pull the towel back towards you slowly, until you feel a good, deep stretch.  Hold for a ten count, release, rest for a five count, and repeat at least twice.

The stretch should feel good.  If it hurts, you are stretching too hard, and you risk injury.

stand on the bottom stair of any staircase so your heels are hanging off and then bend straight down and try to touch your toes...

hope that makes sense

I do yoga, and I like the downward facing dog position for stretching out the entire leg, including the calves and feet.  I have plantar fasciitis, and it's a life saver.

A good modified version is where you place your hands on the edge of a bed or chair, have your legs out far enough for the stretch, and only bend over half way.

Hope this helps!

Thanks everyone! Great ideas!

I stretch using a resistance band (since that's what I have, and I don't want more laundry).  To stretch my legs, I lay on the ground on my back.  Taking the resistance band, I push it (like I was standing on it) with the handles in my hands, until my leg is straight up in the air.  I then grab hold of the rubber (for more stretch) and hold for about 10 seconds.  I then tilt my leg "inward" so it's tilted towards my other leg.  Hold.  I then lean it to the outside, and hold.  Repeat on the other leg.  What's great about this way is I can make it harder by holding higher on the cord.  It really helps my legs.