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Front Splits 3

A series of static stretches designed to gradually lengthen hip flexors, hamstrings, and inner thighs, focusing on alignment and progressive depth toward a comfortable split.

Exercise Overview

Exercise Instructions

Cross Leg Fold demonstration

1. Cross Leg Fold

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
  • Cross one foot over the other, then slowly bend forward from your hips, lowering your upper body towards your legs.
  • Let your arms hang down and try to touch the floor with your hands.

Tips

  • Keep your weight evenly distributed between both feet.
  • Keep your spine long and avoid rounding your back.
  • Relax your neck and let your head hang.

Modifications

  • If you can't reach the floor, place your hands on your ankles or shins.

Benefits

Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Standing Quad demonstration

2. Standing Quad

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart.
  • Bend one knee and bring your heel towards your glutes.
  • Reach behind you with both hands to hold your ankle and gently pull your heel closer to your glutes.
  • Keep your knees together and your hips aligned.

Tips

  • Engage your core to maintain balance.
  • Keep your standing leg slightly bent to avoid locking the knee.
  • Avoid arching your back or leaning forward.

Modifications

  • Use a wall or chair for balance support if needed.
  • If reaching your ankle is difficult, use a strap or towel looped around your foot for assistance.
  • Keep your other hand on your hip or extend it out to the side for added balance.

Benefits

Abdomen, Ankles, Feet, Hips, Knees, Lower Back, Psoas, Quadriceps, Shins

Wide Leg Bend demonstration

3. Wide Leg Bend

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet wide and your toes pointed forward.
  • Keeping your back straight, hinge at your hips to bend forward, lowering your upper body toward your legs.
  • Relax your head, neck, and arms and try to place your palms on the floor.

Tips

  • Focus on lengthening your spine as you fold forward.
  • Keep your legs straight but not locked.
  • To deepen the stretch, grab your ankles and pull your head closer to the floor.

Modifications

  • If you can't reach the floor, place your hands on your shins or blocks.

Benefits

Calves, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Bent Over Calf demonstration

4. Bent Over Calf

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
  • Step forward with one foot, then bend your opposite leg to lower your hips down and back.
  • Keep your back foot flat on the floor and keep your front leg straight, lifting your toes to balance on your front heel.
  • Hinge at your hips, reaching forward with your opposite hand to grab your foot and placing your other hand behind your back.

Tips

  • Keep your back straight and avoid rounding your spine.
  • Keep both of your feet pointing forward.

Benefits

Ankles, Calves, Feet

Lunge demonstration

5. Lunge

Instructions

  • Start from a kneeling position with your arms at your sides.
  • Step forward with one leg, placing your foot flat on the floor in front of you.
  • Push your hips forward and raise your arms overhead.
  • Lift your chest and reach toward the ceiling.

Tips

  • Keep your front knee stable and align it directly above your ankle.
  • Engage your back leg, pressing the top of your foot into the floor.
  • Keep your torso upright and avoid arching your lower back.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, keep your hands on your front thigh.
  • Place a towel or cushion under your back knee for support.
  • Hold onto a wall or chair for balance if needed.

Benefits

Abdomen, Hips, Lower Back, Psoas, Quadriceps

Side Lunge demonstration

6. Side Lunge

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet wide apart.
  • Shift your weight to one side, bending your knee and keeping your other leg straight.
  • Place your hands on the floor and lower your hips until you feel a stretch in your inner thigh.
  • Rotate the foot on your straight leg so your heel is on the ground and your toes are pointed out.

Tips

  • Lift your chest and keep your back straight.

Modifications

  • If the stretch is too intense, don't lower your hips as much.
  • Use a chair or wall for balance support if needed.

Benefits

Calves, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips

Deep Split Squat demonstration

7. Deep Split Squat

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
  • Step one foot back into a lunge position, then slowly lower your body while keeping your back leg straight.
  • Allow your front knee to move forward over your toes and keep your back knee above the floor.
  • Keep your back straight and your torso upright.

Tips

  • Keep your front foot planted firmly into the floor.
  • Ensure your front knee is stable and doesn't cave inward.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, don't lower as deeply or keep your back knee on the ground.
  • Use a chair or wall for additional support if needed.

Benefits

Abdomen, Hips, Quadriceps

Reverse Lunge demonstration

8. Reverse Lunge

Instructions

  • Start from a kneeling position with your knees hip-width apart and the tops of your feet on the floor.
  • Extend one leg straight out in front of you, pressing your heel into the floor.
  • Hinge at your hips to lower your upper body toward the floor.
  • Place your hands on the floor in front of you for balance.

Tips

  • Keep your chest lifted and your back straight.

Modifications

  • Place a folded blanket under your knee for additional support.

Benefits

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back

Kneeling Quad demonstration

9. Kneeling Quad

Instructions

  • Start from a kneeling position with your knees hip-width apart and the tops of your feet on the floor.
  • Step one foot forward and bring your opposite foot up towards your glutes.
  • Please one hand on your front knee and reach back with your other hand to grab your ankle.
  • Gently push your hips forward and pull your heel closer to your glutes.

Tips

  • Maintain an upright posture, avoiding leaning forward or backward.

Modifications

  • If reaching your back foot is difficult, keep your foot on the floor.

Benefits

Abdomen, Hips, Psoas, Quadriceps

Lizard Pose demonstration

10. Lizard Pose

Instructions

  • Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
  • Step one foot forward, placing it outside your hand, and lower your hips towards the floor.
  • Extend your back leg straight behind you, keeping your knee and the top of your foot on the floor.

Tips

  • Keep your chest lifted and your back straight.
  • Relax your hips and allow them to sink towards the floor.
  • For a deeper stretch, lift your back knee and lower your forearms to the floor.

Benefits

Glutes, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, Quadriceps

Pigeon demonstration

11. Pigeon

Instructions

  • Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
  • Bring one knee forward and place it behind your wrist on the same side, then slide your ankle towards your opposite hip.
  • Extend your other leg straight back behind you while keeping your hips square to the floor.
  • Gently lower your torso over your front leg and rest your forearms on the ground in front of you.

Tips

  • Keep your hips level and avoid leaning to one side.

Modifications

  • Place a folded blanket or block under the hip of the bent leg for support.
  • If folding forward is uncomfortable, stay upright and support yourself with your hands on the floor.

Benefits

Glutes, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, IT Band, Lower Back, Psoas

Seated Fold demonstration

12. Seated Fold

Instructions

  • Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
  • Extend your arms overhead to lengthen your spine.
  • Hinge at your hips and reach forward to grab your toes.

Tips

  • Keep your back flat and avoid rounding your spine.

Modifications

  • If reaching your toes is difficult, place your hands on your shins or use a strap around your feet.
  • Keep a slight bend in your knees if you have tight hamstrings.

Benefits

Calves, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

Quad Stretch demonstration

13. Quad Stretch

Instructions

  • Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
  • Bend one knee and bring your heel back towards your glutes.
  • Grab your ankle with your hand and gently pull your foot back so it's directly beneath your glute.
  • Slowly lean back to rest on your elbows.

Tips

  • Keep your hips, knees, and ankles aligned.
  • Make sure your foot stays underneath your glute and isn't out to the side.

Modifications

  • If reaching your ankle is difficult, use a strap or towel looped around your foot for assistance.
  • If you experience discomfort in your knee, try performing the exercise while lying on your side.

Benefits

Ankles, Hips, Knees, Lower Back, Quadriceps, Shins

Lying Figure Four demonstration

14. Lying Figure Four

Instructions

  • Start lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  • Cross one ankle over the opposite thigh, just above the knee.
  • Lift your bottom leg off the floor, bringing your knee towards your chest.
  • Reach forward and clasp your hands behind the thigh of your bottom leg.
  • Gently pull your leg towards your chest.

Tips

  • Keep your head and shoulders relaxed on the floor.
  • Keep your lower back pressed into the floor.

Modifications

  • If reaching behind your thigh is difficult, use a strap or towel to assist.
  • For a gentler stretch, keep your bottom foot on the floor.

Benefits

Glutes, Hips, IT Band, Lower Back

Hurdler demonstration

15. Hurdler

Instructions

  • Start on the floor in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.
  • Bend one leg and place the sole of your foot against your opposite inner thigh.
  • Sit tall and lengthen your spine, then lean forward from your hips to reach out and grab your extended foot.

Tips

  • Focus on hinging at the hips rather than rounding your back.
  • Keep your extended leg straight and your foot flexed, but be careful not to lock your knees.

Modifications

  • If you can't reach your foot, use a yoga strap or towel looped around your foot.
  • For less intensity, bend your extended leg slightly.

Benefits

Calves, Glutes, Groin, Hamstrings, Lower Back

Front Split demonstration

16. Front Split

Instructions

  • Start from a kneeling position with your hands at your sides.
  • Extend one leg in front of you and lean forward to place your hands on the floor in front of you.
  • Lift your back knee off the floor to straighten your leg, then slowly slide your foot back and lower your hips toward the floor.

Tips

  • Keep your hips square and your torso upright.

Modifications

  • If the stretch is too intense, use blocks under your hands for support.
  • Keep a slight bend in your front knee if straightening your leg fully is uncomfortable.

Benefits

Calves, Glutes, Groin, Hamstrings, Hips, Quadriceps

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