5 Hip Stretching and Opening Yoga Poses

The hips respond to stress by becoming tense and tight. This can cause painful cramping during sleep as well as soreness that limits daily activities. Yoga provides some great hip opening and stretching exercises that will loosen those tight muscles and destress your whole body.

The Hips and Stress

Emotional and physical tension is greatly felt in the hips. If the hips are not stretched, long-term problems can be the unfortunate result. Yoga is one of the best exercises for reducing tension in the hips. Try the following five poses if your hips are feeling tight and tense. Better sleep and range of motion will be the result from a daily hip stretching routine. Try these moves before bed.

Happy Baby Pose

This is a great hip stretch that you can do from a lying down position. The happy baby pose will stretch the inner groin and back in addition to the hips, and this one has the added advantage of reducing stress and fatigue.

Fire Log Pose

The fire log pose stretches the hip and groin region. This is a fairly easy stretch. It's done from a sitting position. You'll be crossing one leg over the other and bending forward to the point that is comfortable, then holding the pose for at least one minute.

Marichi's Pose

The marichi pose is an easy stretch that will relieve hip and back pain. This is a sitting pose that simply involves lifting one leg and twisting the torso. You should feel an easy stretch in the hip area as well as the entire core.

One-Legged King Pidgeon Pose

The one-legged king pigeon pose is a challenging intermediate level hip opener. You'll also stretch the thighs, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and neck when you perform this pose. Don't forget to adjust this one to your own level, or it can be quite uncomfortable.

Side-Reclining Leg Lift

The side-reclining leg lift is a reclining pose involving a high leg lift that is held for one minute of longer. This pose stretches the thighs and groin as well as opening the hips.

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