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I've got really tight hamstrings - when my teacher tells us to touch the floor I am nowhere near it. Can anyone suggest any poses that might loose them up

Hi mummayoga

I'd suggest standing with your legs hip distance apart (bend your knees) and bend forward from your hips. Wrap your hands around your elbows and let your head gently hang between your arms. Keep breathing!

You could also try Viparita Karani (legs up the wall) over a bolster. It's great for tight hamstrings.

Place the bolster parallel and slightly away from the wall. Sit sideways on one end and roll onto your side into the foetal position with your buttocks and knees on the bolster and your shoulder and torso on the floor. Roll your body over so your buttocks are placed over the bolster (make sure that it's snug into your back as you lie down) with your legs up the wall. Your shoulders, head and neck should be on the floor.

If your hamstrings are really tight or you are feeling that you are sliding off the bolster then you might want to move it further away from the wall so that your legs are at a slight angle to the wall.

Lie there for about 5 minutes and keep focused on your breath. Slowly come out of it by bending your knees to your chest and rolling out when you are ready.

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Another good pose to strech out tight hamstrings is to sit up on a blanket and spred your legs out wide (upavistha konasana). Bend your knees if you need to. Then very gently place your hands in front of you on the mat and slowly come forwards - using your breath. Try and keep your pelvis titled forwards and roll your shoulders back so that you don't round and hunch your back. As you inhale hold where you are, and as you breathe out move forwards a little more.

Are you sure it's you hamstrings? Perhaps its you glute and lower back muscles.