Will Yoga Make Me Flexible?

Muscles are organs, just like the heart, stomach and brain. Our skeletal muscles, the ones we stretch for increased flexibility, work as pulleys that move our bodies around. They keep us active and mobile, so if you don’t train and stretch them they may become overly stiff or even deteriorate over time. Flexibility also decreases the chances of receiving injury from lifting, bending over and even rolling over in bed at night — all common injuries amongst those that do not stretch their muscles. Being flexible is also very helpful in the personal sense; sports performance is enhanced, it’s easier to relax and it feels more comfortable to move around in general.

While all yoga stretches the body, there are some that focus on flexibility more than others. If you’re looking to use yoga specifically to increase your muscle flexibility, either Vinyasa or Bikram yoga will likely meet your needs! Vinyasa is very similar to Hatha Yoga, the most common form practiced today, and is suitable for beginner and expert yogis. Bikram yoga, or hot yoga, is practiced in a 95-100 degree room in order to promote the looseness of muscles and is also good for treating injuries. Flexibility doesn’t last forever, so regardless of what you choose be sure to maintain a consistent workout! While it does have lasting effects, stretching must be practiced regularly to maintain healthy, happy muscles.