Creating Healthy & Happy Hips
Having healthy, happy hips can be fundamental to our autonomy and our ability to move ourselves though our lives. Often, our comfort or discomfort in our body shows up here.
The hip is a well-encapsulated ball and socket synovial joint designed for weight-bearing, jumping and mobility. Although it has the most functional differences from person to person, hips that function well are supported by a community effects of all muscles and tissues working together as a team. The hips are bilaterally stabilized passively by bone, cartilage, the capsule and a strong ligamentous support system as well as actively by tendons and muscles.
Healthy and happy hips depend on 4 issues:
Flexibility of Tissues and Muscles around the joint and the Connective Tissue and Fascia that surround, connect, interpenetrate and separate those muscles are able to stretch and move freely without adhesion or restriction.
Movement of the joint in all directions freely around the articulating surfaces.
Control of Joint Movements or the joints ability to listen to the commands of the Nervous System to move.
Optimal Joint Position created from the subtle work from the awakened deep stabilizers that control our postural habits and tendencies, and their ability to respond bio-mechanically to shifts and patterns that determine where bones sit in relation to each other.
When active and evenly-balanced stability around the hips becomes compromised it leads to inadequate function, resulting in one or more of the following scenarios:
Excess impact force or shearing force through the joint
Impingement or the pinching soft tissue
Tension or weakness around the joint
Joint irritation or degeneration
This summer I am immersed in my second orthopedic module with Yoga Medicine as I continue to work toward my 500 hour advanced yoga teacher training. In my latest training on the Hip I am taking a deeper look at the anatomy and biomechanics of the joint as a basis for learning to evaluate and how to work with and support this complex and central area to the body. I am learning efficient ways to address imbalances in structure and function, how to assess function and pathology of common injuries, applying area specific therapeutics and injury prevention and durability training for healthy and happy hips.
I’ve already been able to apply the knowledge being shared with me with my clients in both my private lessons and group classes where conditions range from bursitis, piriformis syndrome, Sacroiliac dysfunction, sciatica, trigger points and soft-tissue injuries as well as tendonitis, osteoarthritis, fibromyaglia, hip and knee replacements, people suffering from low back pain, chronic desk sitters, people who work on their feet, active and recovering athletes, and older adults.
If you are interested in experiencing a yoga practice that can teach you how to create better function and cohesion within all of the key pillars for pelvic, low back and core support and be open to learning about why it’s not that way now, consider joining me this July for a 4-class online yoga series titled Yin & Yang: Releasing Restriction + Building Strength. Together in this up close online format, we’ll explore movements that bring the pillars of support around your hips, spine and core to life, and also enjoy time on the softer, more mellow side gaining insight into your everyday flexibility needs through meaningful and supported stretching techniques.
Head over to my Classes page to find out more details and to register for this online-only short series. Online space will be limited to the first 30 people registered.
Stayed tuned to my blog over the summer for more insight into the seat of our experience - our hips!