Numbness and tingly feelings in the leg can range from mildly irritating to seriously problematic, especially if it's impacting your mobility. Yoga can help with a great deal of leg numbness. Postures that increase blood flow, lengthen the neck and spine and strengthen the legs can make a real difference for numb legs.
Downward Dog
Downward dog is one of the most invigorating poses for beginners and advanced yoga practitioners. Also called "adho mukha svanasana" (AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAHS-anna), this pose is therapeutic for the whole body and gets blood flowing back into tired, tingly legs. Start in a kneeling position and lift your body up in an inversion, staying there for anywhere from one to three minutes. Your spine and neck extend and your legs stretch as you press your heels toward the ground. Exhale as you push your heels to get oxygen into the blood and the legs.
Legs Up On The Wall
The legs up on the wall pose is a modified version of viparita karani (vip-par-ee-tah car-AHN-ee). Viparita karani involves putting weight on the shoulders while you're inverted with your heels on a wall, but that's not always feasible for yoga newbies. To help with leg numbness or tingles accompanied by stiffness, leave a little distance between you and the wall. Get closer if you feel flexible and swing your legs up onto the wall in one motion. Modify the pose for even more support with blankets or bolsters under your hips.
Siddhasana
Siddhasana can be tried at all levels, but the mastery of it is considered a true accomplishment. That's probably why so many people get leg numbness when sitting siddhasana. The heels rest at the perineum and pelvic bone, which can be awkward for some, but, once you get this pose, it stimulates blood flow enormously. This means it's a boon for tingly legs when performed wrong, but a great help for numbness when done properly.
Contraindications
Before undertaking any yoga routines to combat leg numbness, talk to your doctor. You may have circulation problems that require prescription medication or nerve damage that can be helped in other ways with or without yoga. If you have bulging discs, sciatica pain, serious problems with your hips or you have just had back or hip surgery, avoid yoga. You can pop the discs out of your spine or damage your surgical progress and end up worse than before.
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