10 Stretch Exercises To Relax Your Tight Hip Flexors

Sitting for long hours could make your hip flexors tight and it is difficult to stand, sit, or walk with tight hip flexors. It is for this reason that you need some time to relax your hip flexors so your hip joints resume normal function.

What Are Hip Flexors?

Hip Flexors

Hip flexors are a group of muscles located in the inner part of the hips, lower back, and the front part of the thighs. It is these muscles that help move your lower limbs. You can stand, sit, run, bend down, and move your legs in every direction. These muscles contract when you sit too much or squat for a long time. Also, overtraining your glutes, lower back, and hip flexors could result in the contraction of these muscles.

Here’re 10 Hip Flexor Stretching Exercises To Keep Your Muscles Relaxed

  1. The Standing Hip Hinge
The Standing Hip Hinge

• Stand on an even floor with your feet shoulder-width apart
• Place your palms on your hips and hold the sides of your waist with your fingers
• Roll your shoulders back and bend your torso slowly
• Stretch your neck to your back and hold the pose for 5 seconds to release all the tension
• Return to the starting position
• Do 2 sets of 7 reps

  1. Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch
Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch

• Stand straight and put your right leg forward
• Put your hands on your waist and lunge down till your knee touches the floor
• Keep your spine straight and stretch your leg behind to push your hips forward
• Stretch your hips and thighs by shifting your weight to the front foot
• Hold the pose for 10 seconds and release
• Do it with your left leg forward and right leg lunging on the floor
• Do 2 sets of 7 reps

  1. The Camel Yoga Pose
The Camel Yoga Pose

• Come down on your knees on a yoga mat with your knees hip-width apart
• Your shin bones should be pressed against the mat
• Place your hands on the back and slowly lean back
• Move your hands to your heels while you bend your upper body
• Your hands should be firm on your heels, thighs perpendicular to the floor, and hips above your knees
• Hold the pose for 5 seconds and then relax
• Do 2 sets of 5 reps

Note: Beginners keep their hands on their hips while stretching. But they should try reaching their hands to their heels with practice.

  1. Pigeon Stretch
Pigeon Stretch

• Come down in a Cat Pose where your knees are directly below your hips and hands below your shoulders
• Stretch your left leg and slide your right knee forward between your hands
• First, inhale and expand your chest and then exhale and slowly lower your chest until your head touches the floor
• Keep breathing and hold the pose for as long as you can
• Release when you are done and switch your legs to repeat the pose
• Do … Find more