"Physical therapist and yoga instructor William Klein points out that the hamstrings cross both the knee and the hip joints, making your bent knee just one part of the stretching equation."
"Although cueing a bent knee makes the stretch more tolerable, it does so by decreasing the amount that the hamstrings are lengthened. There's no real drawback to doing it this way, but it will lessen the stretch a bit."
"Keeping the legs straight and easing only as far forward into a pose as is accessible keeps the stretch relatively intense and supports overall flexibility, although it isn't the most comfortable choice."
Tight hamstrings can make yoga challenging, especially during forward bends. Many practitioners resist cues to bend their knees, opting instead for straight legs to deepen the stretch. While bending the knees makes stretches more comfortable, it reduces the intensity of the hamstring stretch. Keeping legs straight can support overall flexibility, although it may be uncomfortable. Physical therapist William Klein emphasizes that while bending the knees is tolerable, it lessens the stretch, suggesting that straight legs may be more beneficial for flexibility over time.
Read at Yoga Journal
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