Leg Stretches, Forward Pivots
Channel: Kae Bender Yoga
Date: 11/04/2023

This session includes stretches for the legs as well as forward pivot practices. These latter are often called "forward bends," but that is a misnomer. The effective action is not to round along the spine but to pivot at the hip joint at the top of the thigh, leading with the chest and keeping the spine (relatively) straight. This allows the back of the legs to lengthen more effectively. Note also that if you lift your kneecaps toward your thighs and tighten slightly at the from of the thighs, this, too, enables the back of your legs (hamstring muscles) to lengthen more effectively. If you then relax into the stretch, the muscles will not only lengthen for the period of the stretch but will be lengthened (to some extent) at future stretching practices.