Exercise Guide

Butterfly Stretch

Seated with the soles of the feet together and knees dropping out to the sides. A basic groin and inner-thigh stretch that pairs well with squatting.

BeginnerStretchingStaticIsolation
Form
Butterfly Stretch - Start position
Start
Butterfly Stretch - Mid position
Mid
Butterfly Stretch - End position
End

Illustrations by Bryl Lim for Workout Guide, after Everkinetic. Used unchanged under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Details

Primary Muscle

Adductors

Equipment

Bodyweight

Difficulty

Beginner

Category

Stretching

Force

Static

Mechanic

Isolation

Secondary Muscles

Glutes
How to Perform
  1. 1

    Sit on the floor and bring the soles of your feet together in front of you.

  2. 2

    Draw your heels in toward your body and hold your ankles.

  3. 3

    Sit up tall and let your knees fall toward the floor.

  4. 4

    Hold, and lean gently forward from the hips for more if you want it.

Tips
  • Let gravity do the work - pushing the knees down hard is how groins get irritated.
  • Sit against a wall so you are not rounding your back to stay upright.
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