5-Minute Fitness: Hip Stretch

This dynamic yoga move stretches outer hip muscles to help ease back and leg pain and improve balance. “I love the reclined Figure 4 pose — it’s accessible to everyone and a good one to do while in bed,” says yoga expert and teacher Mara Olney (shown).

Reclined Figure 4 Pose:

1. Lie on your back and bring knees toward chest. Cross left ankle over right leg just above the knee, keeping left ankle flexed.
2. Loop hands and interlace your fingers just under right knee, keeping neck long. Pull gently.
3. Close eyes and hold pose for at least 5 breaths.
4. Repeat on other side, crossing right ankle over left leg.

Perform daily at nighttime. Work up to holding pose for 10 breaths, but there is no harm in enjoying this stretch even longer.

This article is featured in the May/June 2021 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives.

Courtesy www.maraolney.com