The average American sits between 8-11 hours per day. That’s a total of 2,920 hours a year of crunching our low backs with poor posture and cultivating tension in our hips. And we wonder why our backs ache?! For ultimate hip and back longevity you’ll need to open those cramped spaces daily.
Whether you suffer from low back and sciatic pain or want to loosen up after a 5-mile run, follow along my yoga and pilates based hip and back opening sequence for instant tension relief.
Don’t be surprised if you find some emotions bubbling to the surface of consciousness while practicing hip openers. Stretches and movement that target the hips not only settle the nervous system, but can awaken deep seated anxiety and memories. Think of if as a cleanse!
Yoga Journal explains: In yogic terms, there is no separation between mind, body, and spirit. The three exist as a union (one definition of the word yoga); what happens to the mind also happens to the body and spirit, and so on. In other words, if something is bothering you spiritually, emotionally, or mentally, it is likely to show up in your body. And as you work deeply with your body in yoga, emotional issues will likely come to the fore front.
Yoga Journal explains: In yogic terms, there is no separation between mind, body, and spirit. The three exist as a union (one definition of the word yoga); what happens to the mind also happens to the body and spirit, and so on. In other words, if something is bothering you spiritually, emotionally, or mentally, it is likely to show up in your body. And as you work deeply with your body in yoga, emotional issues will likely come to the fore front.
Another favorite hip opening pose is pigeon or Eka Pada Kapotasana!
What’s your favorite hip opening asana or stretch?
Coming up next: Neck and Shoulder Release For Perfect Posture
