Yoga offers pain relief benefits for many conditions and areas of the body, including the hips. Hip pain can be caused by several factors, such as tight hips or health conditions like osteoarthritis.
A growing number of people are seeking alternative therapies to chronic pain. One of these is yoga, which is an ancient practice that offers many physical benefits and has been used for over 2000 years for the treatment of a wide range of conditions. The poses in yoga can help to open and stretch the hips, which will reduce pain.
There are several ways in which yoga helps to alleviate hip pain. Yoga stretches the muscles, provides support for the joints and opens the hip muscles. This stretching and opening relieves tension and pain.
The yoga asanas work to stretch and open the hips. In addition, you are strengthening the surrounding muscles and hip flexors. Improving strength and flexibility helps to alleviate hip pain.
There are specific asanas that help to open the hips and relieve hip pain. A well rounded yoga practice with a variety of poses works to stretch and strengthen the joints of the body, including the hips. You can also try a few of these poses when you are pain in a mini practice at home.
Some of the seated poses are good for hip pain. These are seated poses that focus on opening the hips. Some to try include king pigeon pose, bound angle, half lord of the fishes pose and tortoise. Then lie on your mat and try a few supine poses, such as happy baby pose and lotus pose.
There are a few types of yoga classes to try and some to avoid, if you are experiencing hip pain. A gentle hatha yoga class is effective for yoga with the combination of breath and movement.
Some people find that a hot yoga class helps to stretch and open the hips. If you have hip pain and tight hips, this may work for you. The warmth loosens and stretches the joints. Adding meditation to your yoga practice has been shown to provide added benefits.
If you have hip pain, avoid strenuous and fast pace yoga classes. Intense workouts, such as power yoga, are not the best choice for stretching and opening the hips. If the practice is too intense you could end up in more pain than when you started.
Always move slowly and be gentle when performing hip opening asanas. Relax and breathe into the poses to get the most benefit from the practice. Always use a gentle stretch and listen to your body. If you are feeling pain, slow down and back off. If you have a health condition causing your pain, check with your doctor before beginning any exercise practice.