Athletes essential/Tension Reliever

If you play sports, lift weights, run, sit all day, walk...or are simply a human, this stretch is crucial.


When I think of one pose that almost everyone can benefit from it has to be pigeon pose.  Our hips are naturally tight, whether it be from sports, sitting at a desk or in a car hours a day, running, or just the daily stresses we face.  
I'm sure if I asked any athlete if they wanted to preform at their best level the answer would be, yes.  By practicing hip opening poses, it helps increase flexibility, and in turn can release tension in the back, and give your body greater range of motion. Tight hips affect other areas of our body, and can  transfer to our knees and lower back, creating a situation that can result in injury. Basketball, soccer, football, weight lifting, even the simple act of walking naturally creates tighter hips. The problem doesn't necessarily reside in the sports or exercise we chose, but in the fact that we don't take the time to release and stretch these muscles. So naturally over days, months, or years our hips become tight, and stiff, and we experience pain in other areas of our body.  So if your a golf player and want to improve your swing or a football player and want to increase your speed and agility, why not take 10 minutes out of your day and use this pose to your benefit.
Now for the rest of us- even if your not an athlete, you're human and we all have stress and emotional situations in our lives.  Did you know that we hold a lot of emotional stress in our hips, therefor hip opening poses can help release this tension and really lighten your mood. When we have stress or difficult times in our lives its natural to push the emotions away, to be dealt with at another time, well ignored. So yes, you guessed it, it's stored in our hips, and this is why when in pigeon pose you can experience a overwhelming does of emotions.  That's not to say this pose should be avoided, but all the more reason to practice it daily.  Think of how relieving it would be to just let go of all those suppressed emotions.  The all too common expression " I feel like the weight has been lifted off my shoulders" is similar to what pigeon pose does for your hips.  

• From table top (all fours) bring your right knee forward between your hands so your outer right leg is resting on the mat. Position the right heel just in front of the left hip. Look back at your left leg. It should extend straight out of the hip (and not be angled off to the left). The top of the left foot should be pressed into the ground.

• If your hips are more open, inch your right foot away from you. Make sure your left hip is always pointing down toward the mat. If it begins open up toward the ceiling, draw your right foot back in toward your body.

• If your hips are tight,  place a thickly folded blanket underneath the hip for support. 

• Stay here with your hands resting on the on the floor by your hips or walk your hands out in front of you, allowing your torso to rest over your right knee. You can stay on your forearms if stretching completely forward is too much. 

• Hold here, breathing into any areas of tightness and tension for at least five breaths.

• Then place your hands on the mat in front of you, tuck your left toes and step your right foot back to meet your left coming back into table top.

Tips: 


*If you have knee injuries such as damage to the meniscus, ligaments or tendons lift the hip of the leg that is behind you slightly.
*Never push to a point of pain or where your breathing is compromised.  Move slowly in and out of the pose allowing your breath to help you relax. 
*Props are great- use a blanket under the hip to prevent going to far into it, or use a blanket to recline your body forward on to instead on resting your front body on the floor.