Greatest Hips Bound Angle Pose

This pose allows you to slowly ease into relief that will break down those tight spots in your hips and calm you down.

WHY: You might get into this pose and feel stiffer 5 minutes later. That's okay. You're stretching ligaments and tendons deep in your hips, which are incredibly dense. Practice these poses a few times per week and they will gently release. Never bounce or force your knees to the floor because you risk tearing tissues, Corn says. "Just find the shape that your body goes to naturally, hold it, and as you breathe, your body warms up and will go a little deeper." Also, come out of these poses very slowly, despite your urge to boomerang out of them. "Connective tissues are much more sensitive and delicate than your muscles, so they need a moment to respond," Corn says.

HOW: Sitting on the floor, bend your knees then bring the soles of your feet and heels together. Next, draw your heels in toward your pubic bone. Keep your back straight (sit up on that towel if needed). Interlace your fingers and wrap them around the outside of your feet, bringing the heels even closer to your pubic bones and roll the feet open like a book. Pressing your sit bones firmly into the floor, lengthen your spine upward.



Gently press your forearms onto your thighs to get them closer to the floor. Take a deep inhale. As you exhale, lengthen your spine and fold your body forward over your legs. Once you reach the depth of your stretch (it may be anywhere from a few inches to touching floor) stay there for 1 to 5 minutes.

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