Hip opening poses work to open the joints and muscles around the hips. They helps to keep the pelvis and hips in proper alignment, which prevents strain and tightness in that area. Having flexible hips can ease back pain, improve circulation in your legs, help you to walk easier. Hip openers also have mental and emotional benefits. We hold a lot of tension in our hips from stress, anxiety, sadness, fear, and other negative emotions. Once that tension in our hips is released, the emotional benefits are felt. Below is a list of hip opening poses. When doing these poses, concentrate on your breath and relax your body.
- Low lunge (Anjaneyasana)
- High lunge
- Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
- Lizard pose (Utthan Pristhasana)
- Half lord of the fishes (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
- Cow face (Gomukhasana)
- Pigeon pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) - (different variations)
- Bound angle (Baddha Konasana)
- Extended triangle (Utthita Trikonasana)
- Happy baby pose (Ananda Balasana) or half
- Fire log pose (Agnistambhasana)
- Reclining big toe (Supta Padangusthasana)
- Side-reclining leg lift (Anantasana)
- Big toe pose (Padangusthasana)
- Cat pose (Marjaryasana)
- Cow pose (Bitilasana)
- Extended triangle (Utthita Trikonasana)
- Marichyasana I
- Head-to-knee forward bend (Janu Sirsasana)
- Wide-legged forward bend (Prasarita Padottanasana)
- Wide-angle seated forward bend (Upavistha Konasana)
- Marichi’s pose (Marichyasana III)
