Stretching in general helps to relieve muscle tension and elongate them. Free Stretching acts as a complement to high-impact and high-intensity workout, to help your muscles warm up if you do it before or cool down if you do it after. It increases your mobility and flexibility, creates better body alignment and muscular balance. Poses are held for a longer time and props may be used to help you go further into the stretch, such that you get a good long stretch for deep connective tissues.