Thigh Stretches - Freeing the Ties that Bind

Effectively performing thigh stretches can take tremendous patience. The muscles of the thighs connect directly to the muscles of the deep hips and belly, articulating closely with the enteric nervous system or "gut brain." This is the intelligence nestled deep in your core that controls your intuition and instinct, along with the most basic emotional responses of fight or flight.

Fear can come up. Or maybe, one of fear's alter egos: anger, frustration, anxiety, distractedness, even boredom.

So yes...patience.

On this page we will deal in particular with the muscles of the front of the thigh, or the quadriceps. There are other pages dealing with poses for the hamstrings, the ankles and calves, the outer hips, and the inner hips, or groin area.

Low Lunge or Angeneyasana Prep

In it's full expression, this is the signature pose of Anusara Yoga®, and is dedicated to Angeney, the mother of Hanuman, who is the monkey diety if selfless service. In its preparatory stages, it's one of the easier thigh stretches to perform.

1.

Get down on your right knee, with your left foot standing on the ground in front of you, as if you were about to propose. You might want to put some extra padding under your right knee, like a folded up blanket, or an extra yoga mat. Place your hands on either side of your left foot.

2.

Soften, and draw in, squaring your hips to face the front of the room. Gently pull your right knee forward toward your left foot isometrically (without actually moving). Flex your right foot so that your toes are tucked, and follow the instructions for tadasana foot on both sides.

3.

Maintaining all of the actions above, begin to move your hips forward until you feel an opening in the front of your thigh. Keep engaging the muscles as they stretch - creating a safe container is important in order for your muscles to release.

4.

From deep in your belly, root into the four corners of both feet, even the foot that is not flat on the earth, and lengthen through heart. Offer yourself as Anjeneya would in selfless service to the expansion of your own self, and therefore the universe.

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