Hip-Opening Yoga Poses
Loosen tight hips, improve your range of motion and circulation, alleviate back pain, & more in these hip-opening yoga poses. These hip openers promote flexibility and are important for injury prevention.
Latest in Hip-Opening Yoga Poses
11 Yoga Poses to Unlock the Deep Hip Opening Your Body Is Craving
Loosen up those tight hips—and let go of whatever you’re holding onto—with this short sequence.
6 Ways to Transition Into Triangle Pose
Approaching this classic asana in a new way can make you keenly aware of your alignment—and help you break free of your rut.
A Yin Yoga Practice for the New Moon in the New Year
Only when you get quiet can you listen to your deepest truth and desires. Here's how to get in touch with yourself and your intentions for the year ahead.
Bound Angle Pose
Bound Angle Pose, or Baddha Konasana, opens the deepest part of the hip muscles.
Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend
Open wide into Prasarita Padottanasana to increase flexibility by leaps and bounds.
Eagle Pose
You need strength, flexibility, and endurance, and unwavering concentration for Eagle Pose.
Pigeon Pose
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana is a deep hip opener and forward bend that you should approach consciously to reap its many benefits.
Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi III
Sometimes called the Sage's Pose, Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi III (Marichyasana III) is a wise addition to any practice.
Easy Pose
Don't let the name fool you. If you're used to sitting in chairs, Easy Pose (or Sukhasana) can be quite challenging.
Child’s Pose
Take a break. Balasana is a restful pose that can be sequenced between more challenging asanas.
10 Poses to Help You Prepare for Compass Pose
Learn how to properly stretch your hamstrings, hips, and side body in other poses before you try this demanding (yet totally doable) pose.
Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi I
Folding into Marichyasana I or Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi I calms your mind, extends your spine, and gives your internal organs a healthy squeeze.
Hip Flexor Stretches to Counteract All That Sitting
Got back pain? Tight hip flexors could be to blame. Open them up with these four yoga poses that counterbalance the prolonged hip flexion of sitting for hours.
A Home Practice for Open Hips
Maintaining flexibility and stability in the hip joints is crucial for lower-back health and cultivating overall freedom and ease in our bodies.
Tight Hips? You Need Jessamyn Stanley’s Hanumanasana Prep
Every yogi can melt hip tension with this Monkey Pose sequence (with mods!) from the yoga teacher, body-positive advocate, and Instagram star.
Anatomy 101: A Hip-Opening + Balancing Sequence
To work on activating the muscles of the hips to find more balance, try this sequence.
Two Fit Moms: 8 Poses to Prep You for Hanumanasana
Whether or not you ever find yourself in the full expression of Monkey Pose, you can still enjoy the journey with these very effective preps from Two Fit Moms.
Pose of the Week: Lord of the Dance Pose With a Strap
Lord of the Dance Pose (Natarajasana) requires foundation, stability, concentration, flexibility, and balanced action -- everything you need as you set out to achieve your goals for the New Year.
Hip-Opening Pose: Fire Log
Fire Log Pose (Double Pigeon) opens the hips and the groin, and releases tension, anxiety, and pent-up stress.
Q+A: Why Are Hip-Openers So Good for Me?
Hip openers bring release in many areas that are tight and bring a sense of release across the board to many practitioners.
Challenge Pose: 5 Steps to Move into Eka Pada Koundinyasana I
Find length and stay centered to lift step by step into the One-Footed Pose dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I.
Prep Poses: Eka Pada Koundinyasana I
Learn to move from your midline, or central axis, in these three poses to prep for the One-Footed Pose dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I.
Get Hip to the Perfect Props
Feel ease and increase flexibility in your hips with three propped hip-opening poses.
Welcome Discomfort in Bound Angle Pose
Learn to approach your edge with ease in Baddha Konasana.
Need a Vacation? Take Reclining Bound Angle Pose
We can't give you more PTO, but we can teach you how to cruise into Supta Baddha Konasana to recharge.
Yoga for Lower Back Pain: Skillfully Deepen Seated Forward Bends
Strengthen your lower back, free yourself from back pain in seated poses, and skillfully deepen your forward bends.
9 Poses Your Hips Need Now
Release negative emotions and improve your alignment by opening the muscles around your hips.
Get Strong and Shine On: Half Moon Pose
Once you find balance in Half Moon Pose, radiate and extend in all directions to strengthen your legs, hips, and core.
The King of Hip Openers: Pigeon Pose
Learn how to work stiff hips from every angle in Pigeon Pose.
Fire Log Pose
The Fire Log Pose stretches the outer hips intensely, particularly the piriformis, which is often the main culprit of sciatic pain.
Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose
In Extended Hand-to-big-toe Pose, maintaining solid grounding through the standing foot helps keep you steady.
Melt Tension with Pigeon Pose
Find proper alignment in Pigeon Pose, then practice it often, and those stiff, tight hips will start to feel open again.
Rope Pose
In this challenging version of a twist, your arms wrap around your legs so your hands can clasp behind the back, almost like a lasso or a snare.
Q&A: How Can I Get Comfortable in Supta Baddha Konasana?
Iyengar Yoga instructor Lisa Walford makes suggestions for how you can make Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose) more comfortable.
Cow Face Pose
Can't see the cow face? Notice that the crossed legs look like the lips. The bent-elbow arms, one up and one down, are the ears.
Wide-Angled Seated Forward Bend
Upavistha Konasana is good preparation for most of the seated forward bends, twists, and the wide-leg standing poses.
Reclining Bound Angle Pose
A classic restorative posture, Supta Baddha Konasana or Reclining Bound Angle Pose can be modified for any level of hip and groin resistance.
Half Lord of the Fishes Pose
Also called Seated Twist Pose or Ardha Matsyendrasana in Sanskrit, this pose energizes the spine and stimulate proper digestion while improving postural and body awareness.
Bharadvaja’s Twist
Bharadvaja's Twist, or Bharadvajasana in Sanskrit, is a gentle and loving twist that inspires postural and body awareness.