How to Do Frog Pose (Mandukasana) in Yoga

Benefits, variations, and form tips of the hip-opening yoga frog pose

woman on a yoga mat practicing frog pose

 Verywell / Ben Goldstein

Also Known As: Mandukasana 

Targets: Hips, inner thighs, groin muscles, core

Equipment Needed: Yoga mat or padding is optional but recommended for placement under the knees

Level: Intermediate to advanced

Frog pose, also known in Sanskrit as Mandukasana, is an intermediate to advanced level yoga pose that can open your hips and groin muscles, increase circulation, and improve your posture. Frog pose is a great move to add to your yoga practice after a warm-up that includes a few rounds of sun salutations and lunges or lunge variations that begin opening your hips and preparing for the deeper stretch of frog pose.

Because it's a posture that takes some time to ease into, it's especially helpful if you're looking to improve your flexibility while having the opportunity to practice deep, slow, mindful breathing. For athletes or people who run, cycle, or perform quick agility moves, frog pose will encourage movement and mobility in the hip and groin area that often becomes tight through repetitive motion.

Benefits

Frog pose in yoga is a hip and groin opener that targets the muscles in your adductors (inner thigh muscles), hips, and core. While stretching your adductors, which are part of your groin muscles, you also get the benefit of strengthening your core.

Here are more benefits of this hip-opening move:

  • Opens up your hips and improves mobility: Done regularly, frog pose can counteract the chronic muscle tightness that often comes along with spending long hours at a desk or in your car. With regular practicing this pose can aide in mobility and flexibility in the hips so you are able to sit cross-legged on the floor more comfortably, making playing with kids and pets—or sitting at the beginning and ending of a yoga class—much more fun.
  • Eases back pain: This is especially important move if you deal with any back pain or feel tightness in your lower back and hip region after sitting for an extended period. This move stretches your hip flexors and loosens all the muscles in your back.
  • May help manage diabetes: One study found that yoga moves like the frog pose that are held for at least 30 seconds helps regulate blood sugar levels for those who have type 2 diabetes.
  • Pelvic floor relaxation: Those who have a tight pelvic floor may experience symptoms such as pain with sex or trouble emptying your bladder. The frog stretch helps increase circulation and relax your pelvic floor.
  • May help ease stress and anxiety: Research has found that a regular yoga practice may help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Before you get into position, consider placing a yoga mat or blanket underneath you to help soften the pressure of your knees on the floor. If you have especially sensitive knees, consider placing a yoga blanket on top of your mat for extra padding. Face the long edge of your mat instead of the short edge so that your knees will both be padded once you enter the pose.

  1. Begin in a tabletop position on your hands and knees. Make sure your hands are underneath your shoulders and knees are below the hips. Stay here and breathe for three to five breaths.  
  2. Inhale and slowly move your right and left knee out towards the side as you exhale, stopping to hold and continue breathing whenever you feel the stretch. Depending on your flexibility, this step might bring a powerful stretching sensation to your inner thighs and groin area. Avoid pain and do not force your body into a deeper stretch than it's ready for. 
  3. Continue opening your hips as you turn your feet out towards the side and flex your ankles so that your inner feet, inner ankles, and inner knees are touching the floor. If your ankles need cushioning, place a blanket underneath them. If a blanket is already on your mat shift so both the knees and ankles are on the blanket for support.
  4. Slowly lower down to your forearms with the palms either flat on the floor or pressed together. If this feels too intense, stay on your palms or bring forearms onto blocks.
  5. Stay here and breathe deeply for a count of five to 10 breaths or for as long your body comfortably desires. Your breath, as in all yoga poses, is an excellent guide. If you're pushing yourself too far in the stretch, your breathing will become shorter and more forced. If you can take long, slow, deep breaths, it's an indication that the stretch is appropriate for your body.
  6. To release frog pose, slowly slide your knees closer together and return to the tabletop position. Alternatively, some people prefer exiting the pose by sliding their feet together on the mat and pressing their hips back into a wide-kneed variation of child's pose.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to Breathe

One of the top benefits of frog pose is deep, belly breathing. This is especially important as you deepen the stretch in your groin area and move into the pose. Resist the urge to hold your breath. If the stretch feels too extreme and you react by breathing less, ease up on the stretch and put your energy back into the breath. 

Forcing Your Knees Apart

If you’re new to this pose or you have limitations in your hips or knees, do not force your knees further apart in an effort to get closer to the ground. Lower your body only as far as you feel comfortable. As long as you're feeling the stretch and breathing deeply, you will still benefit from the pose.

Letting Your Lower Back Dip

The success of this pose comes from keeping your core strong and lower back flat. While it may feel challenging to engage certain muscles (in this case, your core) while releasing others (hips and inner thighs), that's part of the muscle intelligence yoga helps cultivate. If a prop is needed, use a bolster underneath your stomach.

Modifications and Variations

If you are having difficulty mastering this pose, try the below variations. If none of these modifications work for your body, try half frog pose where one leg is in frog pose and the other is extended straight back, allowing the torso and belly to rest on the ground. Lying on your back in happy baby pose (Ananda Balasana) can also be done before or after half frog pose.

Modification for Knee Pain

If your knees are sensitive, you can place additional blankets under them, or even fold up the ends of your yoga mat for extra cushioning. You can also try moving more of your weight onto your hands to reduce some pressure on your knees and hips. Try using a yoga block under your midsection to help take off some pressure as well. If you are still having knee pain, avoid this pose to avoid causing an injury.

Modifications for Hip Flexibility

If full frog pose is too uncomfortable or your hips and groin muscles are not able to move through the movement in its entirety, decrease the distance between your knees and don't lower your torso and hips as close to the ground. You can also consider bringing your feet closer together to decrease the intensity of the stretch. Another option involves placing rolled up blankets or a bolster under your hips to support your body as you work to increase the flexibility in your inner thighs. 

Up for a Challenge?

If you can stretch and breathe in frog pose without pain and discomfort, you might be ready for a challenge. Try widening the distance between your knees and letting your torso and hips descend closer to the floor. You can also try sliding your feet a bit further apart to see if that intensifies or changes the stretch for you. As always, remember to move slowly and continue breathing steadily with any of these variations. 

Safety and Precautions

Frog pose is generally safe for most fitness levels. However, if you have any knee, groin, or hip injuries or discomfort, you may want to avoid this posture. After the first trimester, pregnant women should avoid this pose and take a seated hip opener like the cobbler's pose (Baddha Konasana) instead.

Additionally, if you have issues with your ankles or lower back, make sure to pay attention and address any discomfort or limited range of motion when performing frog pose. Remember to ease into the stretch and avoid using force; it's normal to feel a stretch in the inner thighs, hips, and groin area, but you should never feel pain. If you feel any pain during this pose, stop and consider one of the modifications.

Try It Out

Incorporate this move and similar ones into one of these popular workouts:

8 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Sara Lindberg
Sara Lindberg, M.Ed., is a freelance writer focusing on health, fitness, nutrition, parenting, and mental health.