
This course teaches hip anatomy in a conversational lecture / discussion format with two dedicated movement practices within.
For the movement practices, please have on hand:
a yoga mat
a yoga block or sturdy throw pillow.
The hip anatomy lecture covers the acetabulum and femur in a synovial joint with cartilage, synovial fluid, and a joint capsule, plus normal range of motion and key movements.
Explore hip mobility with internal and external rotation, horizontal abduction/adduction, and hip extension using blocks, cramp adjustments, and prone and seated positions, while aging and arthritis are addressed.
Explore how hip position, knee pain, and daily movement intersect in yoga anatomy, addressing open and closed pack hip positions, potential impingement, and arthritis with practical Q&A.
Learn why range of motion and strength should overlap in hip training, emphasizing active range, passive range comparisons, external and internal rotation, and strength across the full range of motion.
Explore how ligaments, muscles, and bone-on-bone end ranges influence hip mobility, discussing synovial fluid pressure, instability, and how to approach stretching within your natural range.
Strengthen hip health by activating the glutes and hip extensors through a full-range practice that targets external and internal rotators, abductors, and adductors, with single-leg reach as a baseline.
A little bonus "Movement Snack" for your hips and core - no props needed.
This course (recorded live from an online workshop, then edited into accessible sections) teaches yoga-related hip anatomy in a conversational lecture / discussion format with two dedicated movement practices within.
Why learn about the hips?
Hip opening is the most popular request in yoga classes. Many people in general feel that their hips are chronically tight.
But are they tight? And is more "hip opening" the answer?
When stretching isn't enough
Have you been stretching your hips for years in yoga, yet they still feel tight? Are you wondering if maybe you need to try something else?
Tight and weak muscle patterns become embedded into our bodies through furniture, lifestyle and these patterns don't ONLY follow us onto the yoga mat (no matter how many sun salutations we do):
...these unserving patterns can also be created on the mat.
What can we do on the yoga mat that helps our hips?
Discover specific ways to move your hips mindfully on the mat to unlock hip flexors and awaken hip stabilizers.
Dive into the deep world of "hip healthcare" including rotational strength, joint centricity, stabilization, muscular activation and so much more.
How does this course line up with the science of sustainable hip health?
From tight hip flexors to the distance between your knees and the floor in cross-legged, explore and play with movement-science informed ways to enhance true, sustainable mobility (openness + strength) in this pivotal part of your body.
Guided by a doctor of physical therapy and yoga teacher of 2 decades, you will get to know the muscles surrounding your hips, understand the role of the hips in balance and core stability, and find new levels of ease and freedom in yoga asana.
What props do I need?
For the movement practices, ideally have on hand:
a yoga mat
a yoga block or sturdy throw pillow
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This workshop is all levels and is designed for anyone who sits for any length any day of the week, for cyclists, for runners, for truckers, and of course, for yogis.
2 contact hour CEUs for Yoga Alliance, IAYT, and more. Downloadable certificate available at completion of the course.