Yoga Poses to Strengthen the Legs
Too many of us take for granted how vital our legs are in our lives. Without them, we wouldn’t get very far! Additionally, our movement and agility can be seriously impaired without strong and flexible muscles in our legs.
As we age, keeping our legs strong and stretched-out is especially integral to maintaining the active and enjoyable lifestyle we all want. Athletes who practice sports involving heavy use of the legs, such as running, cycling, or swimming, should also pay special attention to their leg strength.
Like with many physical and mental goals, yoga can be useful for strengthening our legs. Practicing yoga will not only strengthen your legs, it will activate and enhance other key muscle groups that will aid in your overall strength, ability, and mobility.
Keep reading for our top six best yoga poses to keep your legs strong and flexible to keep your body moving for years to come.
The Chair Pose
The classic Chair pose hones in on your quads, which are located on the fronts of your thighs. To do this pose, bend as if you are about to sit in a chair. Once in this position, freeze with your knees bent and arms raised over your head to act as a counterweight. Aim to keep your arms and spine as straight as possible. Try to hold this pose for a minute to ninety seconds.
Leaning Crescent Pose
Like a runner’s lunge, the Leaning Crescent pose activates two different muscles on each of your legs. This pose lengthens the hip flexor on the back leg while flexing the quads on the front thigh. To do this pose, start in a downward dog pose and bring one leg up so that you are in a lunge. Then, raise your arm above you and straighten your spine. Hold for a minute to ninety seconds.
Downward Dog Split
If you have stiff hamstrings, this is an excellent pose for you. Start in the downward dog pose and raise one leg above you, keeping the other foot’s heel on the ground. This pose is a full-body workout, activating your core and glute muscles.
The Squat Pose
A deep squat is an excellent stretch of your quads, calves, and Achilles tendons. Start by standing with your feet about hip-width apart, lower into a squat, and bring your bottom as low to the ground as possible while keeping your feet flat. Many cannot achieve this pose right away, so if your feet don’t touch the floor completely, don’t worry! As long as you are not in pain, you’ll reap the benefits of this pose.
The Standing Frog Pose
Finally, the Standing Frog Pose, a great stretcher and strengthener of the core, groin, hip, and thigh muscles. Stand with your feet spread wider than your shoulders and lower into a wide squat, aiming to hold your legs at a 90-degree angle. Try to hold for a minute.