Warrior II Pose

Both legs are strengthened in this pose. It can also help the knee muscles strengthen. The shoulders are stretched and the arms are strengthened. The muscles needed to raise the arms up are the deltoids the supraspinatus, infrasinatus. pectoralis major and the biceps. This yoga posture will also increase groin flexibility.

Muscles involved in the external hip rotation in the back leg are the quadratus femoris, gemellus Superior and inferior, obturator internus and externus and the piriformis. Muscles in the inner leg that are usually involved with adduction act against the yoga posture if they are not flexible and as a result are stretched. These are the pectineus, adductor longus, brevis and magnus and the gracilis. These muscles affect both legs and will create an inward force towards the midline.

Stand in Tadasana. With an exhalation, step or lightly jump your feet 3 1/2 to 4 feet apart. Raise your arms parallel to the floor and reach them actively out to the sides, shoulder blades wide, palms down.

Turn your right foot in slightly to the right and your left foot out to the left 90 degrees. Align the left heel with the right heel. Firm your thighs and turn your left thigh outward so that the center of the left knee cap is in line with the center of the left ankle.

Exhale and bend your left knee over the left ankle, so that the shin is perpendicular to the floor. If possible, bring the left thigh parallel to the floor. Anchor this movement of the left knee by strengthening the right leg and pressing the outer right heel firmly to the floor.

Stretch the arms away from the space between the shoulder blades, parallel to the floor. Don't lean the torso over the left thigh: Keep the sides of the torso equally long and the shoulders directly over the pelvis. Press the tailbone slightly toward the pubis. Turn the head to the left and look out over the fingers.

Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Inhale to come up. Reverse the feet and repeat for the same length of time to the left.