Yoga involves a variety of poses (asanas) that gently stretch muscles and connective tissues. This stretching gradually increases the length and elasticity of these tissues, improving overall flexibility. Regular practice allows your muscles to adapt and extend further, reducing stiffness and increasing your range of motion.

Yoga sequences often target different muscle groups, ensuring a comprehensive stretch throughout the body. Poses like Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) stretch the hamstrings and calves, while poses like Cobra (Bhujangasana) focus on the spine and chest. By systematically working on various muscles, yoga ensures balanced flexibility improvements.

Yoga also promotes joint flexibility by encouraging gentle movement through their full range of motion. This can help maintain joint health and prevent stiffness. Poses like Cat-Cow (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) mobilize the spine, while Warrior poses (Virabhadrasana) engage the hips and knees, keeping these joints flexible and healthy.

The stretching and holding of yoga poses increase blood flow to the muscles and joints. Improved circulation ensures that tissues receive more oxygen and nutrients, which aids in their ability to stretch and recover, enhancing flexibility.

Regular yoga practice helps to reduce muscle tension, which can often restrict movement and flexibility. By releasing tightness and relaxing the muscles, yoga allows for greater ease of movement.

Flexibility improvements in yoga are achieved through consistent practice. Over time, the repetition of poses and sequences helps to lengthen and strengthen muscles, leading to lasting flexibility gains.