HIPS DON’T LIE

IF YOU FEEL STIFF AND SORE, SUFFER FROM LOW BACK PAIN OR HAVE POOR POSTURE, YOUR TIGHT HIPS COULD BE THE CULPRIT

Until a few years ago, slipping in and out of conference rooms at the film studio I worked for, I believed that the swaying of hips rhythmically was essential only in item numbers. But when I started doing yoga eight years ago, I realised that the hips are among the most crucial joints of the human body and often the most neglected. For one, they take all your weight — when you’re on the move and even when you’re stationary.

There are numerous muscles in the region of the hips, which bend, move and flex enabling a greater range of motion than any other joint of our body. They also stabilise your trunk and spine during movement and sitting. Nearly everything you do closes up your hip muscles and various reasons can shorten these muscles, making them tight and inflexible.

Tight hips increase the load and cause overuse of the spine. This can further affect your knee, your back or travel up to the cervical area. It is therefore essential to open the hips, which in turn, reduces the pressure on your back and lessens back pain, improve postural improvements and increases blood circulation.

The opening of the hips is crucial and helpful in almost all yogasanas. However, there are certain asanas, which mainly work on the various muscles of the hip joint. They are as follows:

Tight hips increase the load on the spine. This can further affect your knee, back and may travel up to the cervical area. It is therefore essential to open the hips, which in turn will reduce back pain, enhance postural movements and increase blood circulation.