Yoga Glossary · Joint Actions

Internal rotation

Rotating a limb inward, toward the midline — the subtle partner of turnout.

Internal (medial) rotation turns the front of a limb toward the body's midline — the thigh rolling in, or the upper arm rotating so the elbow crease turns down. It is produced by muscles at the front of the joint, including parts of the gluteals and adductors at the hip, and the subscapularis and pectorals at the shoulder.

Internal rotation gets less applause than turnout, but poses need both: the back leg in Warrior I internally rotates slightly to square the pelvis, Eagle wraps limbs into internal rotation at the hip and shoulder, and too much of it at the shoulder during Chaturanga is part of the shoulder-pinch story. Healthy joints own both directions.

In practice

• Squaring the hips in Warrior I asks the back thigh to turn in — that is internal rotation balancing the front leg's turnout.
• Elbows pointing straight back (not out) in Chaturanga keeps the shoulder out of excessive internal rotation.
• If a pose only ever turns you out, add its inward counterpart — joints like variety.

Related terms

The Yoga Glossary is an educational study reference. Definitions are standard yoga and anatomy knowledge in plain language; nothing here is medical advice.