Yoga for legs, hips, and hamstrings

Yoga is great for connecting mind and body - but what are the benefits of yoga for your legs and hips?

Hip flexors (which include muscles from your lower back to the knee) are really important for lower body movements. You’ll use them whether you’re walking, running, cycling, or squatting.

Yoga to combat sitting

Hunching over desks all day leads to tight hips and legs (as well as affecting our core, neck, chest, and back).

Working from home, hunkering down in front of the TV, or spending hours on our smartphones can all may that we’re practising poor posture techniques throughout the day. So what do we need to do in our yoga practice? Bascially the oppostie.

Yoga to combat sitting includes:

• Warrior 2 - This pose is great for opening the hips while strengthening the legs, we’re also really extending through the chest - a win-win!

• Malasana - Again we’re opening up the hips here while stretching the hamstrings, groin, and lower back.

• Forward fold - Targeting the whole of the backs of the legs (such a treat).

• Downward facing dog - A real classic, but how much time do we spend on technique here? Done right, it benefits the lower back, hands, hamstrings, calves, and wrists.

Yoga for athletes

Whatever your activity or level, yoga can help to prevent injury, improve your range, and help with circulation - to keep you going that extra bit more.

Targetting the legs, hips, and hamstrings in your practice can help with the lower body movements and range. If you exercise a lot (especially if you’re running long distances), yoga can give your hamstrings the TLC they’ve been needing. Plus, breathing techniques are really useful to control the breath.

Woman and Home outline the benefits of yoga for runners quite nicely.

Benefits of yoga for runners:

• Great for recovery

• Improves running technique

• Reduces chances of injury

• Builds strength

• Increases flexibility and improves mobility

• Boosts wellbeing

• Builds stamina and endurance

• Improves breathing

Why yoga for legs, hips, and hamstrings?

Whether you find yourself sitting down more than you like, or you’re thinking of how to take your activity to the next level, yoga for legs, hips, and hamstrings could be the answer.

Our next course - Yoga for legs, hips, and hamstrings - focuses on this very topic and runs from 21st April - to 26th May. Have a look at our courses page for more detail or get in touch if you have any questions!