Stiff Hips? Here's The One Move You Should Start Doing Daily, From A Yoga Instructor

At the beginning of almost every yoga class I teach, I ask the class what they want to do, and specifically, if there's anything they want to stretch or strengthen. By far, the request I hear the most is hip stretches, with tons of students mentioning stiff hips and/or sitting too much.

If you're dealing with stiff hips, and even backaches, the odds are pretty high that your hip flexors are tight.

And that's unsurprising, considering so many of us spend time sitting—which forces our hips into flexion, as opposed to extension.

What you want to do to counteract those tight hip flexors is extend them, and further, incorporate some weights to strengthen the muscles that surround your hips. Strong muscles = stable joints.

As aforementioned, strong muscles make for happy and stable joints, so if you want better mobility and less stiffness, you need strength! Incorporating a creatine supplement can help you make the most of your workouts, as creatine is a compound stored in muscles1 that the muscles use for energy.*

The recommended creatine dose for optimizing strength and muscle health is 3 to 5 grams per day2. Evidence suggests a creatine intake of at least 3 grams a day is enough to provide significant health benefits, but many clinical trials support a 5-gram daily dose.

As such, mindbodygreen recently created the ideal solution with creatine+. This powder supplement combines 2 grams of taurine, an amino acid that can help improve aerobic performance and strength, with 5 grams of creatine monohydrate in one scoop.* 

Lastly, if you want to prevent stiffness going forward, you'll want to avoid being sedentary for extended periods of time. Taking regular stretching breaks throughout the day is never a bad idea, especially if you work a desk job.