This week I have an exercise for you that not only feels fantastic but also provides an effective way to move and stretch the front of your hips and thighs—specifically, your hip flexors and quadriceps.
These are the muscles that attach your legs to the front of your body, so as you can imagine, they’re pretty essential, especially when walking and standing.
Sitting a lot, which is the norm in our culture, causes these muscles, and related soft tissue, to adapt by shortening.
While short, tight, congested hips feel uncomfortable, this muscle congestion also inhibits walking and standing and leads to compensation patterns, inactive glutes, and knee problems.
That’s why I’m always looking for ways to move and release this vital area because when your hips and legs move freely, your whole body moves with more freedom and ease.
So get ready to find tight spots you didn’t know you had and feel great in the process!
All you need is a comfortable spot where you can lie down.
I’m always curious about how these exercises and tips go when you try them out. So let me know how this exercise feels to you in the comments below the video.
With happy hip flexors,
Sydney
P.S. Your body is constantly adapting and changing to how you use it most. So if you discover your body has adapted to sitting, it doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. No matter how old you are, if you change how you’re using your body, your body will change!
P.P.S. Creating more freedom and ease in your body is what The Pilates Tonic Membership is all about. It’s been getting a fabulous makeover and is almost ready for you! I can’t wait to share more about this new offering and all the ways it will help you keep your hip flexors and the rest of your body happy!
19 Responses
Thanks!
You’re welcome! 😃
Thanks. 9 weeks post hip replacement…and this stretch feels good.
I’m so happy to hear this exercise felt good! Thanks for letting me know, Theresa, and I hope your hip keeps feeling better and better!
Thank you very much.. great reminder.
I appreciate your emails and advice.
Thank you for letting me know, Marion! I’m so glad the videos are helpful!
Sydney, this movement was right on time as I have started going into the office again occasionally. Was feeling stiff this morning and this felt great. Also happy to take positive action to address. I hope to add this to my regular routine. Thank you! Suza
Woohoo, that’s great, Suza! I love that. Thanks for letting me know!
Just what I needed today. I’ll be adding this one to my Everydays. Thank you!
Yay, perfect, Lee Ann! Thanks for sharing!
As always another great exercise. Adding the flexed foot option is so much deeper. Thank you
Plus you are so easy to listen to and watch. Great energy!
Thanks so much, Toni! I really appreciate your feedback and kind words, and am so happy this exercise was helpful!
Great exercise, Sydney but, because of a lumbar-sacral fusion (20 Yrs ago, L4- S1) would there be an alternate stretch you could recommend for me & others in a similar situation? I don’t dare do too much twisting.That area of my lower back is very, very tight.
Thank you for all your brilliant work! I’ve been following you for some time & have tried so many of your other stretches with great relief.
Linda
For sure! You could try this one without letting your pelvis lift and focus on allowing just the legs to swipe left to right. It might feel like a smaller range of motion, but still helpful without the twisting.
Here’s an alternative hip flexor stretch you might like:
https://pilatestonic.com/2021/special-preview-your-glutes-are-connected-to-your-hip-flexors/
Also, one for the quadriceps:
https://pilatestonic.com/2015/got-quads-youll-love-this-quad-stretch/
And here’s my favorite exercise for a tight lower back:
https://pilatestonic.com/2021/use-your-breath-to-massage-low-back-tightness-away/
Thanks for your question and kind feedback, Linda!
Thanks for this! Your information expanded my appreciation of this stretch. A little different/better than what I’ve picked up in yoga over the years.
Yay, so happy this was helpful and expanded the exercise for you, Gae! Thanks for sharing!
this exercise helps so much when dealing with aging adolescent-aquired scoliosis (imbalances) & kyphosis, thx so much!
this exercise helps so much with aging of adolescent-aquired scoliosis & now kyphosis, thx so much!
So glad this was helpful! Thanks for letting me know, Liz!