Yoga For The Piriformis – Weekly Advanced Class 173

Yoga to stretch and relax the piriformis muscle. This class on Yoga Selection features a sequence of poses that will help to both lengthen and relax the piriformis muscle. The piriformis is positioned deep in the buttock region. It sits underneath the gluteus maximus and attaches to the greater trochanter (the protuberance at the top of the femur bone) and sacrum. One of the main roles of the piriformis is to externally rotate the thigh bone in an outward direction. It also helps to stabilise the femur within the hip socket. The sciatic nerve runs underneath this muscle. Piriformis syndrome is an ailment that can arise from the piriformis muscle impinging or irritating the sciatic nerve. This can cause sciatica-like symptoms such as localised pain in the buttock, or sensations of tingling or numbness that radiate down the leg. Stretching the piriformus can be therapeutic for many people with this condition. A number of yoga poses target this region. This class groups together poses that will help to not only stretch but also to soften and release the piriformis. In addition to helping with piriformis syndrome the class will also benefit people working with knee difficulties or restricted hip mobility.