The Yoga Pose You Should Be Doing For Your Hips

Most people know the risk of a tight back or tight hamstrings. Both can increase a person's risk of injury, whether they're exercising or just doing things around the house. However, there is another spot that can grow tight and up your chances of injury, one not many know about. As Franciscan Health explains, sitting all day will tighten up your hips. They will ache or send other signals encouraging you to move, but many people don't have that option when they're at work.

As Health explains, sitting puts our hips in a flexed position instead of the relaxed position they are in when we're standing or laying down. This stressed position is why it can be hard to stand at the end of a workday, or why going for a walk after sitting all day is uncomfortable. Not many people can cut back the number of hours they have to sit at work. However, regular movement throughout the rest of your day can help loosen up your hips. If you want to really shake off the tightness, there are stretches you can do. One, in particular, is a yoga pose that opens the hips up while also stretching the lower back, working two tight areas for the price of one.

Insider highlights pigeon pose as one of the best yoga moves for tight hips. Pierre Couvillion, founder of the Santosha School, which specializes in personal yoga training, told Insider that regularly practicing this pose can improve hip flexibility.

The easiest to get into pigeon pose is from downward-facing dog, the yoga pose where your hands and feet are on the floor with your hips high in the air. From here, bring your right leg up and bend it so your knee is by your hands and your shin is perpendicular to your chest. As you move your leg up, lower yourself to the floor, your left leg out behind you. Insider recommends keeping your feet flexed to protect your ankle. Lean forward onto your hands and right leg until you feel your hip stretch. Hold the position for however many breaths feels comfortable, then switch sides.

This pose does work the hips, ankles, knees, and lower back, so Insider notes that anyone with injuries in these areas should talk to a doctor before using this position. For those without injury, it is a pose that can easily be performed for a few minutes in the morning and evening to combat tight hips and increase mobility.