Fat in the thighs and hips can make you appear unattractive, and few women like having to deal with this. A sedentary lifestyle is often the cause of the accumulation of fat in the thighs and hips, and it could also be from inherited genes, or the foods we eat and lack of exercise. Apart from connecting the mind with the body, yoga benefits the body in many other ways, which includes weight reduction and increased muscle strength and tone.
Below are some yoga exercises to get your thighs and hips in shape.
1. The Chair pose
Also known as Utkatasana, this pose doesn’t only work on the muscles in the legs, but also strengthens the shoulders, hips, glutes, and back. To do this, you have to first get into the mountain pose (Tadasana). Stand upright with your feet together and arms by your sides, then press your big toes together; draw down through your heels and straighten your legs.
Lift your ankles and the arches of your feet, then draw the top of your thighs up and back, while you engage the quadriceps. This is the mountain pose. Proceed by inhaling and raising your arms above your head, keeping them perpendicular to the floor. Exhale, with your knees bent, and your thighs parallel to the floor. Once that is done, draw your shoulder blades into your upper back ribs, reaching your elbows towards your ears.
2. Lord Of The Dance Pose
This pose helps to stimulate the hip flexors, and works on the inner and outer thigh muscles. Stand in the mountain pose (as explained above), then exhale as you bend your left knee, keeping your left foot close to your glutes; reach your left hand to the foot and stretch. With your torso upright, keep your chest open and suck in your navel, to maintain the length in the lower back. Maintain the pose for a few seconds, and repeat on the other side.
3. Head to knee pose
This pose works on the flexibility of the thighs and hip joints, and increases the circulation of blood around that region. To do this, fold your left knee so that the left foot is placed on the right thigh. Now, stretch your arms up and fold your torso, as you reach out for your foot with your arms. Then, breathe into your right abdomen, hold it in for some seconds, and release. Repeat with the other leg
These yoga poses help to keep the legs stretched and flexed. In order to avoid serious problems, it is important that you balance your exercises with the right diets.
image courtesy of: extendyoga.com, theyogaposes.com.
