Can Bikram Yoga Sculpt Your Inner Thigh?

Can Bikram Yoga Sculpt Your Inner Thigh?
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Advocates of Bikram yoga boast of its many benefits. Bikram has been known to help relieve chronic ailments, clear up skin and increase heart health. Its body-sculpting benefits are also recognized among Bikram's 26 poses. This includes firming the inner thighs.

Inner Thigh Anatomy

The inner thighs are composed of muscles called adductors. These fire whenever you squeeze your legs together or bring one leg closer to the midline of your body. To tone these muscles, you must either contract them, meaning squeeze, or eccentrically lengthen them, meaning simultaneously engage and stretch them. Yoga is uniquely capable of firming these muscles and lengthening them for a slimmer appearance.

Inner Thigh Contraction

In Bikram yoga, different poses contract the inner thighs, giving your legs a toned appearance. Eagle pose, for example, requires that you cross one leg over another while standing. To balance, you must pull both legs toward your midline, or the vertical axis of your body, a movement that tones the adductor muscles and sculpts your inner thighs.

Inner Thigh Lengthening

To achieve a slender appearance, it's not just important to tone the muscles, but to also lengthen them. In Bikram yoga, a variety of postures stretch the inner thigh muscles, including standing bow, standing separate leg stretch and triangle poses.

Weight-Loss Benefits

You can have firm inner thighs, but if they're hiding under a layer of fat, you won't get the sculpted look you're going for. Weight loss is one of Bikram yoga's benefits. You don't have to target specific muscles to get lean, toned legs. Full-body workouts, such as Bikram yoga, will dissipate the layer of fat.

References

Article reviewed by Jay Lawrence Last updated on: Aug 18, 2011

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