Hip Opening Asanas

Hip Opening Asanas to Try

The hips get stiff from sitting too long, exercising without stretching, or from joint problems or injury. This restriction reduces the circulation and energy flow through the body.

By practicing a few simple hip opening asanas daily, you’ll notice an improvement in how the lower body feels and responds. Many of the asanas that help the hips are similar to poses used to release tight hamstrings, so you'll get a dual benefit from the effort.

Start by doing a soft warm-up for a few minutes, moving with your breath to prepare the body. Try any of the postures below, holding each pose for up to a minute–longer if you have the endurance.

Press your elbows gently into your thighs as you practice Bound Angle Pose for greater hip release.	Modified Boat Pose is a terrific way to extend the tendons around the hip.	With Low Lunge, you’ll feel an incredible stretch in your hip flexors.
Wide-Legged Forward Bend alleviates pressure in the hips and hamstrings.	Practice Triangle Pose against the wall to learn proper alignment.	In Bridge Pose, there's a release of the chest and spine, too.
While in Downward Facing Dog alternate toe lifts to open the hips.	In Camel Pose, arch back with your head first – and it’s okay if you can’t touch your feet just yet.	Open the hips with any variation of Wide-Angled Forward Bend.

Look for more helpful hip opening asanas in our Yoga Pose Gallery.