Hip Stretch

Your bed is not just for sleeping! It's great for stretching too. Some days the floor just seem too far away, so I use the edge of my bed to prop me up for Pigeon pose. It's a great stretch for the hips — perfect after a run or a ride.

For the finer details of the pose keep reading

As someone who runs, bikes, and sits at a desk all day, my hips can always use a little extra love. If you suffer from tight hips and hip flexors, give this relaxing pose a try. Like Pigeon, it's a pose you can spend minutes in and allow gravity to further increase your flexibility.

Sanskrit Name: Utthan Pristhasana English Translation: Lizard Pose

• Begin in Downward Facing Dog. Step your right foot forward between your palms keeping your hands on the floor.
• Lower your left knee to the floor, and release your elbows to the floor as well. Either rest your hands palms facing down on the mat, or bring your hands together in prayer position.
• Continue to squeeze your right knee toward your body and keep your gaze in front of you to encourage your hips to lower toward the floor.
• Stay here for at least five breaths. Then come back onto your hands. Tuck your back toes and step your right leg back. Take a vinyasa and step your left foot forward to do this pose on the other side.

I like to add this pose into my sun salutations, after the third or fourth round, when my body is warm and ready for a deeper opening of the hips.

Blue skies and a warm breeze totally motivate me to exercise outdoors, so I've been doing lots of running, biking, and hiking. My muscles are becoming stronger, but they're also getting tighter, especially my hips. If you're in need of a good hip stretch, give this Pigeon variation a try. Bending your bottom knee next to your thigh intensifies this stretch so you also feel it in your quad, shin, and the top of your foot.

To learn an easier modification, read more

I feel quite regal in a Warrior 1 pose while really working my quads, but the Humble Warrior is possibly one of my favorite yoga poses ever. This variation of the classic pose is an intense stretch for the hips, chest, and shoulders. So much to love . . .

Sanskrit Name: Baddha Virabhadrasana English Translation: Bound Warrior Pose Also Called: Humble Warrior

If you want to see a more advanced version of this pose then read more

Tight hips are a common complaint among active people, especially those who run, ski, or bike. Pigeon and Double Pigeon are two of my favorite stretches for opening up my hips and stretching my glutes. If you're looking for a new variation to add to your stretching routine, give this one a whirl.

• Sit on the floor and bend your left knee so it is parallel with your tummy.
• Bend your right knee and place it on top, so your ankles and knees are stacked, and your shins are parallel. You'll know you're doing it right when you gaze down and see that your legs make a little triangle.
• You may find your top knee to be way high up toward the ceiling — it's OK, it just means that your hips are tight. Working on this stretch will help to open those tight hips.
• Place your hands in front of your shins and walk them toward the right so both hands are beside your right thigh. If you're flexible, lower your forearms to the floor. To increase the twist, lift your right arm into the air and gaze at your palm while pressing your left elbow against your right knee.
• After 30 seconds or so, place your right hand on the floor, walk your hands back to the center, and walk them all the way over to the left side. To increase the stretch, raise your left arm in the air and gaze upward.
• Walk your hands back to center when you're ready and then sit up. Straighten both legs out in front of you. Then do Double Pigeon with the right leg on the bottom, and repeat walking your hands first to the left, and then to the right.

If you're a runner, chances are your feet could use some extra love. Here's a tranquil pose that will stretch your arches and toes like Toe Breaker stretch, but will also open your hips and challenge your sense of balance.

To learn how to do this pose and see another variation read more

When my lower back is sore from running or sitting all day, a Low Squat is just what I need to stretch that area and get relief. Here's a deeper variation that will also open your hips.

For instructions on how to do this stretch read more