Here are 12 yoga poses to help open your hips. Heidi Kristoffer recommends that you pick any five of these openers each day, switching them up each time. Hold each pose for about 30 seconds each, take deep breaths, and you will start to feel more open. For more details on each pose check out the original post at Shape.com.
My least favourite thing about yoga is that my hips protest too much when I need to do fold overs and especially when they are single leg poses.
I get a sharp pain like it’s hit a nerve and have to move back into a straight pose. It makes me feel like I can’t practice properly, but I know that it is just a limitaton because my hips don’t stretch enough.
I am definitely going to keep these poses in mind.
Building hamstring flexibility.
- parsvottanasana, intense side stretch pose
- uttanasa, forward fold variation with one knee bent, other straight, arm opposite to bent knee reaches toward the sky
- prasarita padottanasana variation with hips reaching back and arms stretching forward
- eka pada rajakapotasana, one legged pigeon pose
I should do these more often.
Protect your hamstrings!
(Source: mayur-asana)
Inspiration: Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana I (Upward-Facing Forward Bend I)
Photo credit: David Martinez
