One of the most common alignment cues in yoga is: “Bring your feet parallel in Mountain Pose.” You might also hear it in Chair Pose, or see the instruction for the front foot to point straight forward in Warrior poses for example. It sounds clear and precise, but the truth is, whether or not your feet should be parallel or pointed straight forward depends on your unique body.

Finding Your True Alignment

The idea of pointing the feet straight forward is often taught as the standard. But our bodies aren’t built from a blueprint, they’re built from bone structures that vary widely. Each of us is different, and our structure is unique.

For some people, feet parallel feels perfectly natural. For others, the feet may need to turn slightly outward, or even slightly inward, to find a neutral stance. And for some of us, like me, each side of the body is different, so one foot may point in a different direction than the other in order to feel balanced.

Instead of trying to follow a single external standard, it’s far more functional (and safer) to learn how your own body aligns best.

Hip Sockets and Neutral Stance

The orientation of your hip sockets plays a big role in how your feet naturally align. For some people, the sockets face more forward, making feet-parallel feel natural and supportive. For others, the sockets angle slightly outward, so when the hips are truly neutral, the feet naturally turn out a little.

When you try to force your feet into strict parallel against your body’s structure, the femur bones are no longer resting neutrally in the hip sockets. Instead, the hips may be pulled into internal rotation, which can create unnecessary tension in the muscles and ligaments around the pelvis. Over time, this can lead to misalignment, strain, or even long-term issues in the hips, knees, or lower back.

The Chain Reaction: Knees and Ankles

Your femur and shin bones may also spiral slightly as they travel down toward the ankle. This means “neutral” alignment won’t look identical on every body.

A good way to assess: lift your arches slightly, then notice where your knees are pointing. When your knees face forward, that’s usually your functional alignment — even if your feet aren’t perfectly straight ahead.

If pointing your feet straight forward causes your knees to collapse inward or splay outward, you’re better off allowing the feet to angle to match your natural hip and leg alignment.

Stability and Ease Over Symmetry

Yoga is not about perfect symmetry or creating rigid, parallel, straight lines with the feet. It’s about stability, grounding, and ease. True alignment is functional, not forced. Honoring your body’s structure is far more important than striving for visual perfection.

The best advice is to listen to the signals of your body. If keeping your feet parallel creates tension in your lower back (especially when you fold forward ), or if you notice pressure in your knees or instability in your ankles, that’s a sign that parallel alignment may not be your natural shape. In that case, explore small adjustments until you find the stance that feels supportive and sustainable for you.

And remember — you don’t have to figure it out alone. Ask your yoga teacher for support in finding the alignment that best serves your body.

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The Takeaway

Feet can be parallel in yoga — but they don’t have to be. Alignment is not a one-size-fits-all standard; it’s a relationship between your unique bones, joints, and movement patterns.

Instead of asking, “Are my feet perfectly straight?” ask questions that bring you into a deeper awareness of your own body:

• Do my knees point forward ?  This simple assessment usually helps you find your own neutral.
• Do my ankles, knees, and hips feel supported and connected? This is what creates stability in your foundation.
• Do I feel steady, grounded, and at ease in the posture? Because when effort feels forced, alignment is no longer functional.

Whether you’re standing in Mountain, sinking into Chair Pose, folding forward, or stepping into Warrior, the goal is the same: to find an alignment that supports your structure and allows energy to flow without strain.

Yoga is not about creating perfect symmetry or forcing the body into rigid lines. It’s about cultivating awareness and honoring the unique structure of your body. When you listen to the signals of your body and align in a way that feels stable, grounded, and easeful, you discover the deeper intention of yoga: presence, clarity, and harmony.

So the next time you hear the cue to “keep your feet parallel,” remember that alignment is not a picture to copy, but a conversation with your own body. Listen, respond, and let your practice reflect your unique structure. Yoga is not about uniformity, but about honoring our inner flow. Find the stance that lets you move, breathe, and create from a place of freedom and stability.