Flexibility is important for practicing yoga. As with many things, flexibility varies greatly from person to person. Some are naturally more flexible than others. Fortunately, yoga improves flexibility, so even if you aren’t very flexible or find that decreasing with age, you can improve it through the regular practice of yoga.
Use props to help increase flexibility in the asanas. Straps, blocks, bolsters and blankets can help you move into the poses and gradually increase your flexibility. After some practice, you will find you no longer need the props.
Specific asanas can help increase the flexibility of certain muscle groups. Consider the places where flexibility is a problem and use poses that work to increase flexibility in that area. For example, hip opening poses are great for increasing flexibility in tight hips.
For many people, hamstrings are a problem. If you want to increase the flexibility in your hamstrings, there are some asanas you should be focusing on in your practice. Extended side angle pose, head to knee pose, standing forward bend, seated forward bend, triangle pose, half moon pose and wide angle seated forward bend all help to stretch the hamstrings.
The most important thing to remember is flexibility will increase over time. This isn’t something you can accomplish in a day, or even a week. Avoid the temptation to push yourself in the poses in an attempt to increase flexibility. This often has the opposite effect and results in injury.
Move into the asanas slowly. This is easier to do if you choose a slow stretch yoga class, rather than a vinyasa flow class. Spend time in the poses and move with the breath. On each exhale, bring energy into the body and on each exhale, relax a little deeper into the pose. This method is great for gradually increasing flexibility, but don’t go too far to avoid injury.