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    Yoga Journal Yoga Poses Yoga Poses by Anatomy

    Yoga Poses for Your Thighs

    Build both flexibility and stability in your thighs with these yoga poses that stretch and strengthen these essential muscles from every angle.

    • Yoga Poses for Your Abdominals
    • Yoga Poses for Your Ankles
    • Yoga Poses for Your Arms
    • Yoga Poses for Your Back
    • Yoga Poses for Your Stomach and Belly
    • Yoga Poses for Your Glutes
    • Yoga Poses for Your Hamstrings
    • Hand Yoga Poses for Your Fingers, Palms, and Wrists
    • Yoga Poses for Your Hip Flexors
    • Yoga Poses for Your Hips
    • Yoga Poses for Your Knees
    • Yoga Poses for Your Legs
    • Poses for Your Lower Back
    • Yoga Poses for Your Neck
    • Yoga Poses for Your Pelvis
    • Yoga Poses for Your Sacrum
    • Shoulder-Opening Yoga Poses
    • Yoga Poses for Spine Alignment
    • Yoga Poses for Your Thighs
    • Yoga Poses for Your Upper Back
    • Yoga Poses for Your Wrists
    More
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Big Toe Pose

      YJ Editors
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Bound Angle Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Bow Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Camel Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Chair Pose

      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Child’s Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Cow Face Pose

      YJ Editors
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Eagle Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Easy Pose

      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose

      YJ Editors
      Poses by Type

      Extended Triangle Pose

      YJ Editors
      Arm Balance Yoga Poses

      Firefly Pose

      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Malasana (Garland Pose or Squat)

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Half Frog Pose

      YJ Editors
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Half Moon Pose

      YJ Editors
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Head-to-Knee Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Hero Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      High Lunge

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      High Lunge, Crescent Variation

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      King Pigeon Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Locust Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Dancer Pose | Lord of the Dance Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Low Lunge

      YJ Editors
      Poses by Level

      Monkey Pose

      YJ Editors

      Latest in Yoga Poses for Your Thighs

      Yoga Poses for Your Thighs

      The 7 Best Yoga Poses to Stretch Tight Quads

      These muscles help you do just about everything. Let’s keep it that way.

      Kyle Houseworth
      Updated Oct 28, 2024
      Hand Yoga Poses for Your Fingers, Palms, and Wrists

      Reverse Plank | Upward Plank Pose

      Purvottanasana counteracts the effects of Chaturanga by stretching the pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and anterior deltoids.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 22, 2025
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Tree Pose

      A classic standing posture, Vrksasana establishes strength and balance, and helps you feel centered, steady and grounded.

      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Bound Angle Pose

      Bound Angle Pose, or Baddha Konasana, opens the deepest part of the hip muscles.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Eagle Pose

      You need strength, flexibility, and endurance, and unwavering concentration for Eagle Pose.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 24, 2025
      Hip-Opening Yoga Poses

      Pigeon Pose

      Eka Pada Rajakapotasana is a deep hip opener and forward bend that you should approach consciously to reap its many benefits.

      Updated Mar 24, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Staff Pose

      It might look straightforward, but there's more to Dandasana than meets the eye.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 23, 2025
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Warrior 3 Pose

      A standing posture centered around balance, Virabhadrasana III will strengthen your legs, ankles, and core.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 28, 2025
      Arm Balance Yoga Poses

      Side Plank Pose

      When's the last time you reminded yourself that you can do difficult things?

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 21, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Easy Pose

      Don't let the name fool you. If you're used to sitting in chairs, Easy Pose (or Sukhasana) can be quite challenging.

      Updated Mar 14, 2025
      Poses by Type

      Extended Triangle Pose

      Extended Triangle Pose is a quintessential standing pose that stretches and strengthens the whole body.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Chair Pose

      Utkatasana powerfully strengthens the muscles of the arms and legs, but it also stimulates the diaphragm and heart.

      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Standing Forward Bend

      Uttanasana will wake up your hamstrings and soothe your mind.

      Updated Mar 23, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Camel Pose

      Bump up your energy (and confidence!) by bending back into Camel Pose. Ustrasana counteracts slouching and relieves lower back pain with a generous, heart-opening stretch.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Warrior 1 Pose

      Virabhadrasana 1 is a foundational yoga pose that balances flexibility and strength in true warrior fashion.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Child’s Pose

      Take a break. Balasana is a restful pose that can be sequenced between more challenging asanas.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Jul 3, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Mountain Pose

      It seems so simple as to hardly be a pose. But this basic posture contains the secrets of how to hold yourself in countless other poses.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 27, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Bow Pose

      Bend back into the shape of a bow to feel energetically locked, loaded, and ready to take aim.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Arm Balance Yoga Poses

      Firefly Pose

      Want to fly? Fire up your core. Firefly pose is an arm balance pose that requires more core strength than arm strength.

      Updated Mar 14, 2025
      Poses by Type

      The Future of Yoga: 3 Things Modern Postural Yoga Could Do Better

      Yoga and Pilates teacher Trina Altman shares why she practices and teaches a lot more than basic asana. Here, three big ways she’d love to see asana practice advance in the near future.

      Trina Altman
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      A Hero (Pose) for Every Home Practice

      The intensity of Virasana can feel as daunting as the hero’s journey in your favorite adventure story. Choose the variation on the pose, ranging from gentle to fiery, to fit the narrative of your personal story on the mat today.

      Kathryn Budig
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Fine-Tune Your Forward Folds

      Dial in to the details for greater integrity in your forward folds.

      Jason Crandell
      Published Sep 28, 2012
      Beginner Yoga Sequences

      This Small (and Often Overlooked) Muscle Plays a Huge Role in Low Back Pain

      These stretches can help.

      Doug Keller
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Beginner Yoga How-To

      Back in Traction: Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose

      Stretch your hamstrings without straining your spine. Learn the basics of Supta Padangusthasana.

      Marla Apt
      Updated Jan 14, 2025
      Arm Balance Yoga Poses

      Wild Thing

      One poetic translation of Camatkarasana means "the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart."

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 22, 2025
      Practice Yoga

      5 Best Adductor Exercises for Hip Strength and Flexibility

      These muscles are the target of all those hip-openers you do. But they need more than just stretching.

      Julie Gudmestad
      Updated Feb 26, 2025
      Chest-Opening Yoga Poses

      Got Tight Quads? Yes, You Can Still Enjoy Supta Virasana

      Don't let tight quadriceps keep you from one of yoga's most relaxing poses: Supta Virasana.

      Julie Gudmestad
      Updated Jan 14, 2025
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Standing Split

      When you practice Standing Splits focus on the stretch in your quad and hamstring, not how high you can lift your leg.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 21, 2025
      Arm Balance Yoga Poses

      Peacock Pose

      According to Hindu lore, the Peacock symbolizes immortality, love, and patience. Peacock Pose, called Mayurasana in Sanskrit, works to lovingly strengthen the core while stretching the palm side of the wrists.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 14, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Low Lunge

      Low Lunge, or Anjaneyasana in Sanskrit, stretches the thighs and groins and opens the chest. It provides recovery post-workout, and boosts energy while consciously working to improve posture.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 27, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      One-Legged King Pigeon Pose II

      Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II allows you to stretch the entire front body and deep into the hip flexors to strengthen your back and improve posture.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 27, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      High Lunge, Crescent Variation

      This variation of High Lunge, sometimes called Crescent Pose, is a great preparation for the full version of Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose).

      YJ Editors
      Updated Jan 14, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      High Lunge

      Counteract the effects of Modern-Day Sitting Syndrome by lengthening your hip flexors in High Lunge.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 24, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Upward Facing Two-Foot Staff Pose

      Can you practice Wheel with straight arms and Headstand without strain? Then, you're ready.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Jan 15, 2025
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose

      In Extended Hand-to-big-toe Pose, maintaining solid grounding through the standing foot helps keep you steady.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 14, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Malasana (Garland Pose or Squat)

      An excellent facilitator of good pelvic floor health, Garland Pose, called Malasana in Sanskrit, stretches the ankles, groins, and back while stimulating proper digestion. No worries if your heels don't reach the floor—simply rest them on a folded blanket.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 21, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      King Pigeon Pose

      Kapotasana invigorates your body and gives your spirits a lift. This extremely deep backbend is appropriate for advanced practitioners only.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Half Frog Pose

      Ease up into Half Frog Pose, called Ardha Bhekasana in Sanskrit. This pose strengthens the back while gently opening up the shoulders, chest, and thighs—a loving treat for the entire body.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 21, 2025
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Big Toe Pose

      This pose gently lengthens and strengthens even stubbornly tight hamstrings.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 23, 2025
      Yoga Poses for Your Thighs

      Thigh Master

      Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

      Julie Gudmestad
      Updated Jan 14, 2025
      Practice Yoga

      You Have to Be Nice to Your Hamstrings to Lengthen Them

      Flexible, strong hamstrings are key to any yoga practice. But they're often stubbornly tight. These five hamstring stretches gently lengthen and strengthen them.

      Roger Cole
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Yoga Poses for Your Thighs

      Thighs Matter

      Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

      Julie Gudmestad
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Binding Yoga Poses

      Rope Pose

      In this challenging version of a twist, your arms wrap around your legs so your hands can clasp behind the back, almost like a lasso or a snare.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 27, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Dancer Pose | Lord of the Dance Pose

      Dance with cosmic energy in this challenging yet graceful balancing pose that relies on equal parts effort and ease.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 21, 2025
      Poses by Level

      Monkey Pose

      Take a leap of faith into Hanumanasana or Monkey Pose, named for a figure in Hindu mythology who did just that. And when faith doesn't get you all the way there, practice will.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 26, 2025
      Poses by Level

      Reclining Hero Pose

      Lay Virasana back and to take the stretch in the thighs and ankles up a notch.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 24, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Locust Pose

      Salabhasana or Locust Pose effectively preps beginners for deeper backbends, strengthening the back of the torso, legs, and arms.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 27, 2025
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Half Moon Pose

      Say hello to leg and ankle strength as you seek stability and extend into this balancing pose, Half Moon Pose.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Cow Face Pose

      Can't see the cow face? Notice that the crossed legs look like the lips. The bent-elbow arms, one up and one down, are the ears.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 24, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Wide-Angled Seated Forward Bend

      Upavistha Konasana is good preparation for most of the seated forward bends, twists, and the wide-leg standing poses.

      Updated Mar 22, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Reclining Bound Angle Pose

      A classic restorative posture, Supta Baddha Konasana or Reclining Bound Angle Pose can be modified for any level of hip and groin resistance.

      Richard Rosen
      Updated Mar 22, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Hero Pose

      Virasana is a balm for tired legs at the end of the day, as well as an alternative to Lotus for seated meditation.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 27, 2025
      Poses by Type

      Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose I

      Oh, your aching back? Or maybe you can't crack those tight hamstrings. Supta Padangusthasana I or Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose I is for you.

      Updated Mar 21, 2025
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Head-to-Knee Pose

      Janu Sirsasana, or Head-to-Knee Pose, is appropriate for students of any level and melds a forward bend with a spinal twist.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 22, 2025

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