Why Hip Stretches Are Good for Your Body and Mind

Feeling the wear and tear of back-to-back meetings? Got aches and pains from sitting all day? Your hips might be the problem. A sedentary lifestyle causes tightness in the hips, which can radiate to your lower back, hamstrings, and knees. Here’s why you should be doing hip stretches to improve your performance and get relief.

In terms of your body’s performance, all power comes from the hips. Therefore, hip stretches are crucial for mobility and the range of motion (ROM) necessary for sports or everyday activities.

Runners and those who do regular strength training know the importance of having good ROM, which is the degree to which you can move one joint from full extension to full flexion. Hip stretches will help you execute exercises with good form and increase your body’s ability to express strength using its full potential. Start your workout routine with hip stretches to rev up your performance level.

There are more than 20 muscles that cross the hips. These allow you to bend at the waist and raise your leg. Limited mobility from tight hips makes you more prone to injuries. Hip stretches can help strengthen these muscles and give you better control of your movements and quicker reflexes.

Even if your hips are healthy, the key is to keep them moving to lower your chances of hurting yourself today or in the future when you’re old and gray.

While working from home has its perks, it does come with downsides. Guys who sit in chairs all day know the specific hell of tight hips. Funny enough, being super active doesn’t make you immune to hip problems either.

Hip stretches increase rotational motion and improve your ability to stretch, flex, or extend forward or backward, reducing strain on your lower back. Stick to your routine to achieve your fitness goals and warm up with proper hip stretches.

Yoga instructors and neuroscientists would tell you that emotions – in the form of electrochemical signals – are expressed and stored in the body and the mind. The hips, in particular, have been linked to emotions since they hold the psoas muscle, which is involved in the body’s flight or fight response and the deepest support of the core.

Any tightness in this area from prolonged sitting or physical inactivity can lead to poor posture, which is also associated with stress, fatigue, and depression. Releasing the tightness in your hips can help you release pain and discomfort, improve your posture, and ultimately manage related emotions.

Got a job, sport, or even just a chair? Welcome to the Tight Hip Club. Here are some simple exercises to help loosen hips tighter than Mick Jagger’s pants.

Begin in a seated position, with your back resting flat on the back of the chair. Cross your right ankle over your left knee to make a figure four, and gently press your right knee down. Hold for a few seconds and do the same with the other side. This is a great stretch after long periods of sitting, like on a long-haul flight or a meeting that could’ve been an email.

Kneel on your right knee with your left leg extended at a 90-degree angle. With your back straight, fold forward at the hip and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side, doing two to five reps each.

Sit on the floor and bring the soles of your feet together. Move your heels as close to your body as possible and lean forward with your back straight, hinging at the hips. For a deeper stretch, push your thighs down with your elbows. Hold for 30 seconds while paying attention to your breath.

After training hard, hit the showers to wash off sweat and bacteria. Start with a shampoo that freshens your scalp, like CLEAR Cool Sport Menthol Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Men. It removes all traces of grime, grease, and dandruff while leaving a fresh, cooling sensation.

Make sure to cleanse your skin thoroughly to remove acne and body odor. For your face, use POND'S Men Facial Wash Acne Solution, the first face wash with patented Lock and Clear Technology, clinically proven to help beat acne in three days. If you have extra oily skin, follow with Master Facial Wash Oil Control Max. This workout bag essential has cooling ZEROil that controls oil for up to eight hours. 

Avoid getting thrust into old age at 30! Listen to your body and add hip stretches to your routine to prevent pain and injuries, and ultimately stay mobile and healthy.