Forward bends in yoga are a category of yoga poses where the spine is flexed forward, and the chest moves towards the thighs or the head is brought closer to the legs. These poses typically involve stretching the muscles along the back of the body, including the hamstrings, lower back, and sometimes the hips and calves.
Forward bends are often considered cooling and calming postures that help to relax the mind and promote introspection. They are commonly included in yoga sequences to counterbalance backward bending poses and to provide a gentle stretch to the back of the body.