Flexibility is one among the key elements of excellent physical health. Over time, though, your body may lose flexibility thanks to aging, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, or improper posture and movement habits.

If you’re able to boost your flexibility, regularly practicing yoga, whether at a category or reception , could also be one among the simplest waysTrusted Source to extend mobility in your muscles and joints.

Along with boosting your flexibility, practicing specific yoga poses can also assist you build muscle strength and reduce feelings of stress or anxiety.

In this article, we’ll explore the advantages of accelerating your flexibility and walk you thru the simplest yoga poses for improving flexibility in your back, hips, core, neck, and shoulders.

Why is flexibility important?

Increasing your flexibility is sweet for you in some ways . a number of the foremost important benefits include:

• Greater range of motion. Increased flexibility makes it easier to maneuver your joints during a normal direction with less effort.
• Less muscle tension. Stretching your muscles can help release tension and tightness, making it easier to maneuver .
• Better posture. Tight, tense muscles can cause muscle strain and poor posture.
• Less pain. When your muscles aren’t tense, there’s usually less stress and pressure on certain parts of your body and, as a result, less pain in your back, neck, and shoulders.
• Lower risk of injuries. Greater strength and adaptability in your muscles and joints may cause you to less susceptible to injuries.
• Less stress. When tension is released in your muscles, it’s going to assist you feel more relaxed. In turn, which will lower your stress levels.
• Improved circulation. Better blood flow may help your muscles recover more quickly after a workout and also prevent stiffness.

Best yoga poses for improved flexibility

If you’re curious about trying a yoga class to extend your flexibility, Hatha, Vinyasa, or Yin styles are all good options.

If you’re short on time, or would like to practice some yoga poses reception , the subsequent poses are often especially helpful for stretching many of your major muscles and boosting flexibility.

With each pose, go at your own pace. specialise in how the pose feels rather than how it’s . you’ll repeat each pose as repeatedly as you wish , as long because it doesn’t feel painful or too difficult to try to to correctly.

Poses for back flexibility

1. Intense side stretch (Parsvottanasana)

This forward bend stretches your spine, hips, and legs. It also benefits your posture, balance, and digestion.

To do this pose:

• Stand together with your left foot ahead facing forward and your right foot back, arising your toes at a small angle.
• Square both of your hips to face forward.
• Place your hands on your hips.
• Bend at your hips to fold your torso forward, tucking your chin into your chest.
• Drop your handily to the ground , or place them on a block.
• Hold this pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Switch the position of your feet and do the other side.

2. Head to knee (Janu Sirsasana)

Suitable for all levels, this pose helps improve flexibility in your back, hips, and thighs. It also increases blood flow within the lower abdomen and may be an excellent stress reliever.

To do this pose:

• Sit on the bottom or on a yoga mat.
• Extend your right leg, and press your left foot into the within of your thigh.
• Inhale and lift your arms overhead.
• Exhale and bend at your hips to fold forward toward your outstretched leg.
• Place your hands on the ground , or hold on to your outstretched leg or foot.
• Hold for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Switch legs and do the other side.
• Poses for core flexibility

3. Cat-Cow (Bitilasana Marjaryasana)

The fluidity of this pose works well for improving mobility and adaptability in your core, neck, shoulders, and spine.

To do this pose:

• Start this pose on high-low-jack , ensuring your wrists are beneath your shoulders and your knees are beneath your hips.
• Keeping your weight balanced evenly across your body, inhale as you permit your belly to fall toward the ground . Raise your chest and chin as your belly moves downward.
• Exhale as you press into your hands to round your spine up toward the ceiling, tucking your chin into your chest as you are doing so.
• Continue this movement for 1 minute.

4. Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)

This intermediate level pose helps stretch many of the muscles that are used when sitting. It can help increase flexibility in your core muscles also because the muscles in your back, chest, glutes, and legs.

Avoid doing this pose if you’ve got pain or discomfort in your neck, shoulders, or back.

To do this pose:

• Lie on your stomach together with your arms alongside your body.
• Bend your knees and reach back together with your hands to understand the surface of your ankles.
• Try to lift your shoulders and chest off the bottom if you’ll , but don’t push beyond what’s comfortable.
• Keep your head looking forward while taking long, deep breaths.
• Try to hold for up to 30 seconds, then release.
• Repeat 1 to 2 times.
• Poses for hip flexibility

5. Low lunge (Anjaneyasana)

Ideal for all levels, this pose helps lengthen your spine, open your hips, and build muscle strength. it’s going to also help alleviate sciatica.

To do this pose:

• Kneel on the ground on your left knee. Bend your right knee and place your right foot flat on the bottom ahead of you.
• Lengthen through your spine and out the crown of your head.
• Lift up your torso and arms. Or, you’ll extend your arms to the side, perpendicular to the ground .
• Gently push into your right hip.
• Try to hold this position for a minimum of 30 seconds.
• Switch legs and repeat on the other side.
• Alignment tip: Prevent your front knee from moving past your ankle. Maintain square hips by drawing your back hip forward.

6. Wide-angle seated forward bend (Upavistha Konasana)

This forward bend can help open up your hips and low back while also boosting flexibility in your hamstrings and calves.

To go deeper into the pose, you’ll sit on the sting of a cushion or block to tilt your pelvis forward.

To do this pose:

• Sit on the ground together with your legs open as far wide as they’ll go.
• Extend your arms overhead.
• Hinge at your hips to fold forward, walking your hands forward toward your feet.
• Hold this position for up to 1 to 2 minutes.
• Alignment tip: If your toes means to the edges , move your legs in closer. Your toes should face straight up, as if you’re pressing the soles of your feet into a wall.
  

Poses for shoulder and neck flexibility
7. Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana)

Appropriate for all levels, this pose stretches your shoulders, chest, and arms.

To do this pose:

• Position yourself during a comfortable seated position. Allow your spine to elongate and your chest to open.
• Extend your left arm overhead, then bend your elbow so your fingers point down along your spine.
• Using your right , gently draw your left elbow over to the proper , allowing your left to maneuver further down your spine.
• If it’s comfortable, you’ll try bending your right arm upward along your spine to clasp your left .
• Remain during this pose for a minimum of 30 seconds.
• Switch arms and roll in the hay on the opposite side.

8. Plow Pose (Halasana)

This intermediate level pose may help alleviate tension in your neck, shoulders, and spine.

If you discover it hard for your feet to succeed in the ground , rest them on the seat of a chair or a stack of cushions. Avoid doing this pose if you’ve got any concerns together with your neck, digestion, or vital sign .

To do this pose:

• Lie on your back together with your arms alongside your body, pressing your palms into the ground .
• Raise your legs straight up to 90 degrees.
• Bring your legs over your head.
• Place your hands on your lower back, aligning your pinky fingers on either side of your spine together with your fingers facing upward.
• Hold for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Release by rolling your spine backtrack to the ground .
• Repeat 1 to 2 times.

Safety tips

When doing a yoga pose, avoid forcing yourself into any position or doing an excessive amount of too quickly. this will increase your risk for injury.

Listen to your body. If a pose starts to feel painful or too uncomfortable, release the pose directly .

You may be ready to only hold a pose for 10 or 20 seconds initially , and that’s just fine. As you gain flexibility, you’ll work toward holding the poses for extended .

Talk to your doctor or a licensed yoga teacher before starting yoga if you:

• have any injury or pain, including sciatica
• have high or low vital sign
• are menstruating or pregnant
• have asthma
• have cardiovascular or respiratory concerns
• have digestive issues
• take any medications

The bottom line

Being flexible and ready to move easily is a crucial aspect of your physical health. But stress, age, lack of exercise, and improper posture can cause your muscles to become tense and tight, which may limit your flexibility.

Doing a daily routine of yoga poses may be a highly effective way of easing tension in your muscles and building flexibility. The key’s to start out slowly and gradually increase the quantity of your time you’ll hold a pose with the right form.