Yoga Exercises & Postures For Reducing Weight From Thighs

Yoga Exercises & Postures for Reducing Weight From Thighs

Aug 17, 2010 | By Desiree McKenzie

To reduce weight from your thighs, yoga focuses weight-bearing resistance sequences on your entire body to tone muscles, increase bone mass and stress your ligaments in a non-aggressive way. According to Sarah Powers, author of "Insight Yoga," your ligaments grow back with more strength after each yoga practice. Standing yoga postures work to align the body and shape strong thigh muscles.

Warrior II

Warrior II Pose makes the legs, knees and ankles stronger according to YogaJournal.com. Stand with your feet 3 to 5 feet apart. Pivot the direction of your left toes to face forward. Keep your right foot at a 90-degree angle. Bend your left knee and work your thigh parallel to the ground. Feel your hips open and extend your arms out in a "T" with the palms facing down. Bring your gaze over your left fingertips. The entire thighs of both legs are worked fully. Hold the pose for 30 seconds and switch with your right knee bent.

Lift Side Angle

Side angle stretches the side body and applies more resistance on your quadriceps and hamstrings. From Warrior II with your left knee bent, fold over your thigh and place your left elbow on top of your left thigh. Extend your right arm straight up toward the ceiling. Once you feel stable, sweep your right arm toward your left thigh alongside your ear with your palm facing down. Lift your left elbow and straighten your arm over your left thigh to really work your left thigh. Hold the pose for 10 breaths. Release and switch to your right side.

Wide-Stance Fold

Wide-stance forward bend stretches the back of your legs and thighs. Stand with your feet 3 to 5 feet apart. Make sure your toes are parallel to each other and the outside corners of the soles of your feet are planted. Bring your hands to the top of your hips. Hinge forward at the hips and lower halfway so your torso is parallel to the ground. Stay for 15 breaths and then raise your torso as one unit back to standing. Repeat five times. According to Leslie Kaminoff, author of "Yoga Anatomy," separating the legs to different widths will affect different hamstrings "more or less strongly," so consider adjusting your stance between each repetition.