Skip to main content
Back
Butterfly Yoga Pose
Add to Workout

Butterfly Yoga Pose

Build

How to Perform

  1. Sit on the floor with your back straight and legs extended in front of you, then bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together.
  2. Draw your heels in toward your pelvis as close as is comfortable, allowing your knees to drop out to the sides, and grasp your feet or ankles with your hands.
  3. Engage your core muscles and sit tall through your spine, imagining the crown of your head reaching toward the ceiling while maintaining a natural curve in your lower back.
  4. Gently press your elbows against the inner thighs to increase the stretch, but avoid forcing your knees down which can strain your joints.
  5. Breathe deeply and evenly, inhaling to lengthen your spine and exhaling to relax deeper into the position, allowing gravity to naturally open your hips.
  6. Keep your shoulders relaxed away from your ears and your chest lifted, creating space between your ribs and hip bones.
  7. Hold the position for 30-90 seconds while maintaining steady breathing and focusing on releasing tension in your inner thighs and groin.
  8. To release the pose, slowly bring your knees together, extend your legs in front of you, and gently shake them out to release any tension.

Important information

  • If you feel sharp pain in your knees or hips, place folded blankets or blocks under your outer thighs for support.
  • Keep your feet active by pressing the outer edges of your feet into each other rather than letting them collapse.
  • Avoid rounding your lower back – if needed, sit on a folded blanket to elevate your hips and help maintain proper spinal alignment.
  • Make sure you're not gripping too tightly with your hands – the pose should feel like a gentle opening, not a forced stretch.

Exercise Details

Primary Muscles

Adductors

Muscle Groups

Leg exercises

Mechanic

Isolation

Built for progress

Take the guesswork out of training

Create personalized AI-powered workout plans that evolve with you. Train smarter, track every rep and keep moving forward, one workout at a time.

Be among the first to join!
GrabGains workout plans

The Butterfly Pose, also known as Baddha Konasana in Sanskrit, is a fundamental yoga position that offers tremendous benefits for practitioners of all experience levels, particularly beginners seeking to improve their flexibility and mobility. This gentle seated posture primarily targets the adductors—those inner thigh muscles that often become tight from our modern sedentary lifestyle—making it an excellent addition to any stretching routine.

The beauty of the Butterfly Pose lies in its versatility. It serves wonderfully as part of a warm-up sequence, preparing the hips and groin for more demanding movements by increasing blood flow to these areas. Equally, it shines as a recovery or cool-down exercise, helping to release tension accumulated during more intense activities while promoting a sense of groundedness and calm.

What makes this pose particularly accessible is how it naturally encourages proper alignment while allowing practitioners to control the intensity of the stretch according to their own flexibility level. The gentle opening sensation along the inner thighs creates space in an area where many people experience chronic tightness, potentially improving overall hip mobility and posture with regular practice.

Beyond the physical benefits, the Butterfly Pose offers a moment of mindful connection with your body. The subtle sensations that arise during this stretch provide an opportunity to practice awareness and breathing into areas of tension—skills that translate to both athletic performance and everyday movement patterns.

As a mobility-enhancing posture, the Butterfly supports healthy hip function, which serves as the foundation for many daily activities and athletic movements. The gentle nature of this stretch makes it appropriate for nearly everyone, from office workers combating the effects of prolonged sitting to athletes looking to maintain supple, responsive muscles for optimal performance. This timeless pose demonstrates that sometimes the simplest movements yield the most profound benefits.

FAQ - Butterfly Yoga Pose

What muscles does the Butterfly Pose stretch?

The Butterfly Pose primarily stretches the inner thigh muscles (adductors), groin, and hips. It also provides a gentle opening in the lower back and activates the core when practiced with proper alignment.

How long should I hold the Butterfly Pose?

For beginners, start with 30-45 seconds and gradually work up to 2-3 minutes as your flexibility improves. Focus on breathing deeply throughout the pose rather than forcing yourself to hold it longer than is comfortable.

Is Butterfly Pose safe for people with knee problems?

While generally safe, those with knee injuries should place cushions under the outer thighs for support and avoid pressing down forcefully on the knees. If you experience sharp pain (rather than stretching sensation), modify by elevating your hips on a folded blanket.

What are common mistakes to avoid in Butterfly Pose?

The most common errors include rounding the back, forcing the knees down, and holding your breath. Instead, maintain a tall spine, allow the knees to relax downward naturally, and establish a smooth, steady breathing pattern throughout the pose.

How can I deepen the stretch in Butterfly Pose?

To intensify the stretch, gently lean your torso forward from the hips while maintaining a straight spine, or use your elbows to press gently against the inner thighs. You can also bring your feet closer to your body to increase the sensation in the inner thighs.

Alternative Exercises

Foam Roller Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) Release

Foam Roller Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) Release

The Foam Roller Tensor Fasciae Latae Release is an effective way to relieve tension in the front and outer part of your hips. This small but important muscle, the tensor fasciae latae, works alongside the hip flexors and the iliotibial (IT) band to stabilize your pelvis during movement. Because it’s active in almost every lower-body exercise and even while walking or sitting, it often becomes overworked and tight. Using a foam roller helps reduce this tension, improving hip mobility and comfort during squats, running, or daily activities.When used before training, this release prepares your hips for movement by increasing blood flow and reducing stiffness in the connective tissue around the TFL and IT band. After workouts, it helps accelerate recovery by easing muscle tightness and improving circulation in the hip region. Regularly including this technique in your mobility routine can help prevent imbalances and reduce discomfort around the hips and knees.The strength of this mobility exercise lies in its simplicity. By targeting the tensor fasciae latae directly, you’re not only improving local flexibility but also promoting better movement patterns through the entire hip complex. Releasing tension in this area often eases strain on neighboring muscles such as the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back, leading to smoother, more efficient movement.Whether you’re new to foam rolling or experienced with recovery tools, the Foam Roller Tensor Fasciae Latae Release is easy to learn and self-regulated — you control the pressure and range. A few minutes of consistent practice can lead to noticeably freer hips, improved posture, and a lower risk of overuse injuries, proving that small, targeted recovery habits can make a big difference in overall performance.

Stretching
Mobility
Recovery
Cool-down
+1
Foam roller
Ball Rolling for Front Thigh

Ball Rolling for Front Thigh

Ball Rolling for Your Thigh Muscle is a simple and effective way to help relieve muscle tightness in the front of your thigh. This easy technique is perfect for beginners and works great before or after exercise. All you need is your body weight and a small firm ball, like a tennis ball or lacrosse ball. The muscle you're working on (called the rectus femoris) is special because it connects both your hip and knee, which means it gets tight easily from sitting too long or being active.When you roll this muscle with a ball, it's like giving yourself a deep massage that helps loosen up knots and tight spots in your muscle. The pressure from the ball helps get more blood flowing to the area, which brings in good nutrients and helps remove waste that builds up in your muscles. This makes you feel less sore and helps you recover faster after exercise. The ball gives you more focused pressure than other tools, so you can really target those stubborn tight spots.Using a ball regularly on this thigh muscle can make your legs feel much better and move more easily. When you release the tightness, you might notice it's easier to bend your knees, your hips feel looser, and everyday movements feel smoother. People who exercise often find they can squat deeper, run more comfortably, and jump better after making this part of their routine. The ball lets you work on exactly the spots that feel tight instead of just rolling over everything.The great thing about using a ball for this muscle work is how simple and effective it is. Whether you're getting ready to exercise, cooling down afterward, or just want to feel better on a day off, this technique really helps. Since the ball is smaller than other massage tools, you can pinpoint exactly where you feel tight and work on those specific areas. Many healthcare professionals recommend this as a way to prevent common leg and knee problems, making it useful for anyone who wants to feel better and move more easily, regardless of how active they are.

Stretching
Mobility
Recovery
Cool-down
+1
Other
Standing Wall Calf Stretch

Standing Wall Calf Stretch

The Standing Wall Calf Stretch is a fundamental mobility exercise that serves as an excellent addition to any fitness routine, particularly for beginners looking to improve lower leg flexibility. This accessible stretch specifically targets the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles: collectively known as the calves, which often become tight from daily activities like walking, running, and even sitting for prolonged periods with feet in a flexed position. As a versatile recovery technique, this stretch can be seamlessly incorporated into your cool-down routine to help alleviate muscle tension after a workout. The gentle, sustained pressure helps to release lactic acid buildup and promotes better circulation to the working muscles, potentially reducing post-exercise soreness. Equally valuable as a warm-up element, the Standing Wall Calf Stretch prepares the lower legs for more intense activity by increasing tissue temperature and enhancing range of motion. The beauty of this stretch lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. By creating a controlled lengthening of the calf muscles, it addresses one of the most commonly tight areas in the body. Regular practice can contribute to improved ankle mobility, which translates to better performance in squats, lunges, and various athletic movements. For runners and walkers, maintaining flexible calves can help prevent overuse injuries such as Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. This stretch represents a perfect balance between stretching and mobility work: while it certainly elongates the muscle tissue for greater flexibility, it simultaneously improves the functional range of motion at the ankle joint. This dual benefit makes it particularly valuable for those with desk jobs or anyone who experiences calf tightness from daily activities. Whether you're an exercise novice or simply looking to maintain healthy tissue quality in your lower legs, the Standing Wall Calf Stretch offers an accessible, equipment-free option that delivers significant benefits with minimal time investment. Its gentle nature makes it appropriate for nearly all fitness levels and ages.

Stretching
Mobility
Recovery
Cool-down
+1
Bodyweight exercises
Sitting Bent-Over Back Stretch

Sitting Bent-Over Back Stretch

The Sitting Bent-Over Back Stretch offers a gentle yet effective way to release tension in your erector spinae and hamstrings simultaneously. This beginner-friendly stretch serves as a versatile component of your fitness routine, fitting perfectly into warm-ups, cool-downs, or recovery sessions when your muscles need some attention. What makes this stretch particularly valuable is its accessibility: requiring no equipment and minimal space, it can be performed virtually anywhere when you need to decompress your spine and lengthen those hamstrings after prolonged sitting or physical activity. The stretch works by creating a controlled elongation of the posterior chain, from your lower back muscles that run along your spine all the way down to the hamstrings at the backs of your thighs. Many people carry tension in their back muscles without realizing it, and this stretch addresses that hidden tightness while simultaneously improving your overall mobility. Regular practice can contribute to better posture and may help reduce the risk of back discomfort associated with tight erector spinae muscles. For desk workers especially, incorporating this stretch into daily routines can counteract the negative effects of extended sitting. The beauty of this stretch lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. While it appears straightforward, it delivers profound benefits for your body's mobility systems. The gentle traction it creates along the spine can help maintain the health of your intervertebral discs and promote optimal nerve function throughout the back. Remember that stretching shouldn't be rushed: this particular movement rewards patience and proper breathing. As with all stretching and mobility work, consistency yields the best results. Making this stretch part of your regular recovery protocol can lead to noticeable improvements in your movement quality, athletic performance, and everyday comfort. Your back and hamstrings will thank you for the regular attention to their flexibility needs.

Stretching
Mobility
Recovery
Cool-down
+1
Bodyweight exercises