| The hips are an extremely important area of the body. | | | | anxiety and stress. An unfortunate side effect of |
| This region forms the intersection between the lower | | | | travel, especially with long flights and layovers, is stress. |
| body and the spine, thus requiring both mobility and | | | | The body and mind get fatigued worrying over |
| stability. Often neglected, especially in a society of | | | | timetables and TSA regulations. The first chance you |
| long-duration sitting sessions, the hips tend to get very | | | | get, take some time to do a few hip openers. You'll be |
| tight. If you notice yourself getting sore and tight after | | | | happy you did. |
| a long day at the office, just imagine how you'd feel | | | | Luckily, there are many options of Hatha yoga poses |
| after a plane trip across the world. In this article, I'll | | | | that can help alleviate hip related issues. Some of the |
| discuss the benefits of a family of Hatha yoga poses: | | | | most popular and effective postures include lunges, |
| hip openers. | | | | warrior I (virabhadrasana), and bound angle |
| The hips, like any other muscle, get tight from being | | | | (baddhakonasana). I'll go over one of my favorites, |
| stagnant. Travel logistics such as long flights or train | | | | pigeon (kapotasana). |
| rides can be a nightmare for the hips. When you're | | | | To setup for pigeon, come to a table position. On the |
| sitting, your hips are flexed, meaning that an angle is | | | | in-breath, slide the right knee forward between your |
| formed between the torso and thighs. This causes the | | | | hands. Begin to slide the left leg straight back behind |
| hip flexor muscles (found on the front of the pelvis) to | | | | you. Lowing your right buttock toward the floor, begin |
| shorten and tighten, tipping the pelvic bowl and resulting | | | | to bring your right heel in front of the left hip. For a |
| in lower back pain.The benefits of hip opener postures | | | | more intense stretch, bring your right foot out further |
| are astounding. One of the main reasons that this | | | | on the left side. Exhaling, extend up through the crown, |
| family of Hatha yoga poses is so popular is because | | | | hinging forward at the waist, lowering your torso |
| its benefits can be felt immediately. By lengthening and | | | | towards the left knee. Begin to walk the hands |
| opening the muscles and connective tissues around | | | | forward, resting either on the forearms or surrendering |
| the hips, the pelvis tilt is realigned. This can provide | | | | completely to the posture, resting your head on the |
| immediate relief and flexibility to the lower back. To | | | | ground. |
| add, loosening the hip muscles provides more space in | | | | Pigeon is one of the most intense Hatha yoga poses. |
| the femur and pelvis joints, allowing for increased | | | | At first, the deep sensations can be a bit much. Stay |
| mobility while walking. | | | | present and breathe fully. As you let go in this posture, |
| Aside from the physical benefits, hip openers also | | | | stress and tension release, providing much needed |
| provide emotional release. The hips tend to hold | | | | relief after long periods of travel. |