Exercises to loosen the hips may be a great relief to you if you spend much of your day sitting down. Even if you consider yourself active and always "on the go," you will likely be seated in a car or on public transportation much of the time. Having your hips locked in a flexed position while en route to your next destination may be enough to make hip exercises beneficial. Try some easy exercises daily to loosen up tight hips.
Hip Circles
The simplest of hip-loosening exercises is the hip circle. The name pretty much sums up the action. All you have to is stand up straight with a slight bend in your knees. While keeping your feet flat on the floor, rotate first one knee and then the other clockwise. Then rotate each knee in turn counter-clockwise.
Downward-Facing Dog Variation
The downward-facing dog exercise in yoga is well-known for its lower-body stretching and upper body-strengthening qualities. It can be used as a hip-loosening exercise by opening one leg out to the side while in the pose and allowing gravity to pull it open. To get into the pose, lie on your stomach with your legs straight. Bend your elbows and place your hands on the floor next to your ribs. Then curl your toes under you and press your body into the air. You should tuck your pelvis and raise your hips up to the ceiling while trying to straighten your arms and legs. Then bend one knee, say your right, and raise your leg up into the air. Next rotate your right hip toward the ceiling and allow your hip to open outward with the knee bent. You will do the same on the other side. Hold as long as you can or aim to hold for three breaths per side. You can even add a few leg circles to further loosen your hips while in the pose.
Chair Pose
The chair pose in yoga is another exercise to loosen the hips. This exercise is done by standing with your feet together and bending your knees into a modified squat position. The upper body will naturally incline forward slightly. You will have to work to tuck your pelvis until your lower back is flat--not arched and not rounded. This may be difficult if your hips are tight. Raise your arms straight over your head in line with your ears and press your shoulders down and back. You can hold this as long as is comfortable, or start with three to five breaths.
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