3 Yoga Poses For Hamstrings

People all over the world suffer from tight hamstrings. When kids are active in gymnastics and playing outside they usually don’t have problems with tight hamstrings, but as we age we tend to sit more, allowing our hamstrings time to tighten up. Yoga is a wonderful way to combat tight hamstrings and has a variety of poses that will help loosen them up. From beginner to advanced, there’s a post for every ability level.

1. Forward Bend – Standing or Sitting

This is one of the most simple yoga poses for hamstrings. Keeping your feet flat on the floor you simply lean over and stretch your hands down to meet the floor. Bending your knees will help with any back pain you may experience but will lessen the effect on your hamstrings. As you feel your body you relax you can breath deeply and lean farther into the stretch. For those performing this stretch on the floor, sit with your legs straight ahead of your and your toes pointed to the sky. Reach forward and, bending your back, try to grab your feet. Hold this pose and breath into it as you stretch farther.

2. Standing Split

As you become more advanced and your hamstrings stretch you can try tricky yoga poses, such as the standing split. This requires a lot of leg strength, as well. Place your hands flat on either side of one foot, head towards the ground. Stretch your other leg up and behind you, keeping the knee straight. As you gain flexibility you will be able to hold your lifted leg higher, increasing the stretch in your hamstrings. Make sure to switch legs!

3. The Splits

Once a move only cheerleaders could do, this yoga pose is the ultimate way to stretch your hamstrings. It takes a lot of time and effort to get to this pose, but the rewards are worth it. When you perform the splits you have able to relax your hamstring muscles as you lower your body to the ground. They are no longer tight at all!

Here are three yoga poses for hamstrings that can help you, no matter your fitness level and flexibility. Start slow, with easier poses, and as you gain more and more flexibility you can work towards the harder poses. No matter your level now, taking the first step towards a healthier you is an admirable thing to do. So let’s get started!