Hip Anatomy

• The hips are made up of a number of muscle groups on the outside of the leg, inside of the leg and the buttock. The hardest muscle groups to target are deep in the hips, including the piriformis muscle and the hip flexor.
  
  

Stretching

• Our hips get tight because they are not stretched out when you are in a seated position, which is how you likely spend a good part of our day. By stretching the hips, you can counteract imbalances in the hip and hamstring area. Try pigeon pose and runner's lunge as stretches for the muscles deep in the hips.
  
  

Alignment

• Alignment can be out of balance if you are more flexible in one area than the other. Adjust the alignment of your hips without going to a chiropractor using warrior one pose and crescent pose.
  
  

Relieving Menstrual Pain

• Cramping in the lower abdomen and hips due to premenstrual syndrome can be relieved through restorative yoga postures. Try easy pose and bow pose to open the hips slightly and stretch out the lower abdominal muscles that reach into the pelvis.
  
  

Assisting Labor

• Yoga has been used to loosen tight hips and develop deep breathing needed for childbirth. If you are expecting, you may try attending a pre-natal yoga class to start the process of aligning your body for childbirth.