Ira Trivedi, wellness expert and founder of Yog Love, shows you how to strengthen your hip muscles.
At some point of time, all of us must have experienced a feeling of tightness across the hips.
Usually this happens due tension around the hip flexors.
The hip flexors are a group of muscles around the top of the thighs that connect the upper leg to the hip. These muscles allow you to bend at the waist and raise your leg.
Symptoms you have tight hips:
Hip stiffness is the feeling that your hip joint doesn't move as easily as it once did, and it's generally painful.
You may feel as if your hip is clicking or popping as you move. Your range of motion may also be affected.
Sometimes hip stiffness may make you move more slowly than you used to.
Pain and discomfort from tight hips are normally felt in the upper groin area. You may also experience lower back pain or hamstring strain.
Tight hips often lead to issues in the low back and knees.
Many people have tight hips, from people who spend several hours a day sitting to regular gym-goers and professional athletes.
Some people are more prone to tightness in that area of their body, too. Tight hips may put you at increased risk for injury due to the increased demands on tissues that aren’t moving properly.
Stretching and regular massage can help reduce your risk for muscle tightness and pain.
Some postures you can try to strengthen your hips and get rid of stiffness:
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon Pose)
This is specifically a hip-opener forward bend asana. This stretch is commonly seen in yoga practices. It can be used daily to improve mobility in your hip flexor.
How to do it
Hastapadasana (Hand-to-Foot Pose)
Hastapadasana stretches the muscles and can be performed as a warm-up exercise before lifting heavy.
It revitalises the nervous system and promotes proper blood circulation. The abdominal organs are toned and the spine becomes flexible after performing this yoga.
How to do it
Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Low lunge pose)
Ashwa sanchalanasana is one of the yoga poses from a sequence of asanas performed in Surya Namaskar (Sun salutation).
This is an amazing pose to stretch and tone the hips and legs quadriceps, and groin.
The asana also opens the chest and stretches the muscles of the back.
How to do it
Janu Sirsasana (Head-to-knee pose)
Janu Sirsasana is an excellent stretch to relieve tight hamstrings and the muscles in the back of your thighs. It combines a forward fold, twist, and side body stretch all in one.
How to do it
Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Trikonasana is a standing asana in modern yoga used as an exercise to increase stability.
Trikonasana activates your hip, vertebral column, knee, shoulder, thigh, hamstring, ankle, calf, inguinal region, and core muscles, which aid in strength and stability.
How to do it
Bharmanasana (Table Pose)
Bharmanasana is a beginner pose practised to help bring balance to the body while the entire muscles in the body are equally stretched.
The gentle stretch is at the arms, shoulders, wrists, hips, core, thighs, knees and the spine, balancing and relieving the tensions.
Come to the floor on your hands and knees. Bring the knees hip-width apart, with the feet directly behind the knees.
Look down between the palms and allow the back to be flat. Press into the palms to drop the shoulders slightly away from the ears.
Breathe deeply and hold for 1-3 breaths.
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Bhujangasana is also a part of the Surya Namaskar exercise.
It is a hardcore backward bend that needs to be done it targets the hip flexors, which are the muscles along the front of the thigh and pelvis.
In addition, you may also feel this stretch along the front of the torso and up into the chest! This can be a great stretch if you walk or run a lot.
How to do it
Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose)
Baddha Konasana is a go-to pose for opening the hips and stretching the inner thigh muscles.
This seemingly simple pose also strengthens your core and improves your posture.
How to do it
Utthita Malasana (Extended leg squat)
Malasana, the Yogi Squat, is the king hip opener.
Malasana stretches the thighs, groin, hips, ankles, and torso.
It tones the abdominal muscles and improves the function of the colon to help with elimination. This pose also increases circulation and blood flow in the pelvis
How to do it
Pashchimottanasana (Seated forward bend)
Pashchimottanasana is a deep stretch for the back of the body including the calves, hamstrings, and spine.
Forward bends can help relieve stress and even improve your mood.
How to do it
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