Weekly Hip Stretch – Yep, Those Are Your Quads
If someone asked you to name a stretch for your quadriceps, it would probably be this one.
But, behind this simple, run of the mill position is a powerful stretch able to reach multiple muscles with a few tweaks. The magic is in the details.
Illuminate me…
With a few very small moves of the pelvis and the thigh you can regulate the intensity of this stretch and affect which muscles are getting more length. If you keep one of those parts stable while slightly moving the other, it’s much easier to fine tune the movement and get to a place you want. If you’re moving everything, you allow the body to “cheat” and potentially bypass the muscles that may need the stretch.
Try it…
What you’ll need:
Something to help you balance while standing:
the back of a chair or couch
a counter or table
even a wall will work
There’s no shame in using something for balance. This isn’t a balancing exercise, and stability in your pelvis is one key to its success. Don’t make your body do more work than it needs.
You’ll also need something to help pull your foot closer to your pelvis:
yoga strap
belt or scarf
heavy theraband
you get the idea
Here’s the exercise. Try it and let me know if you like it!
As always, go slowly and listen to your body.
Wishing you happy hips!