I’ve been practising yoga for more than 10 years and have worked with hundreds of teachers at studios all over the world. But I always come back to the routines Adriene Mishler posts on her Yoga With Adriene YouTube channel.
The routines are simple to follow and always make me feel better, physically and mentally.
Her latest video is a 12-minute routine for stiff hips. Since I regularly experience hips and lower back pain from working at a desk, I was excited to give it a try.
Article continues belowIt’s a gentle routine, which is ideal for breaking up the working day, providing my body a break from sitting and my mind a break from thinking.
How to do Yoga With Adriene’s gentle yoga for tight hips
You don’t need any equipment for this routine, just a yoga mat or something comfortable and non-slip to lie on.
My experience trying Yoga With Adriene’s gentle yoga for tight hips
Despite being just 12 minutes long, this practice includes five of my favourite hip stretches.
The routine moves through cat-cow, child’s pose, low lunge, figure-four and butterfly. These are all beginner-friendly poses that activate different parts of the hips.
Mishler generally advises to hold the poses passively, which meant my muscles had time to relax and I could move even deeper into the stretch
By the end of the routine, my hips felt a lot less stiff and sitting at my desk was more comfortable. I’ll definitely go back to this routine as a simple but effective way to stretch my hips in future and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their hip flexibility.