If you’re someone who works at a desk or spends a lot of time traveling on airplanes, it’s quite likely your hips feel a bit tight from time to time. The muscles in our hips can end up feeling a bit cranky if we don’t show them some love once in a while. Time spend in the same seated positions over a long period can lead to stiffening of muscle fibers as well as decreased blood flow to these areas. Some yoga teachers also believe that our hips are where we “store” our emotions because performing poses that target these muscles often leads to an emotional release. It’s normal and healthy to feel the urge to laugh or cry in a hip-opening pose. Here are a few that we find most effective:
Pigeon Pose
Begin in a downward-facing dog pose. Raise your right leg up toward the ceiling, keeping your hips parallel to the floor and your leg straight. Move forward into a plank position, bending your right knee and bringing it forward to your right elbow. Place it on the mat, keeping your right shin as perpendicular to the front of the mat as possible. Hold for at least 30 seconds but up to 3 minutes, breathing deeply. Repeat on the other side.
Yogi Squat
This pose can be used to stretch both hips at the same time. Begin in a standing position with your feet either parallel or slightly turned out. Slowly lower your hips toward the ground into a squatting position. It can be helpful to place your hands into a prayer position and gently rock side to side. Hold for at least 30 seconds.
