8 Yoga Poses to Target Tight Hip Flexors

8 Yoga Poses to Target Tight Hip Flexors

The group of muscles we call the hip flexors are actually made up of five different muscles that connect the knee, the hip and the lower back via the pelvis. These muscles are active every day and are critical for movements like walking and squatting.

But when they become weak or short, it can compromise your body's ability to perform. As you age, sit for long periods of time or train without recovering properly, the hip flexors begin to tighten.

To stay healthy, you should stretch the hip flexors daily. Stretching doesn't need to take hours; 20 minutes will do.

Use these tips for each of the stretches below:

1. Start by slowly breathing in and out through the nose. Keep the breath flowing through the whole stretch.
2. Stay in each pose for up to a minute.
3. Perform the poses in this order, as each builds on the next
4. Once you feel a stretch, stop. Don’t try to force yourself deeper into the pose as you will end up over-stretching and hurting yourself.

Original article and pictures take www.active.com site