Yoga Therapy for Your Hips
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©NICOLE BRATT
Dear ones,
When I ask in class, “Any requests?” one of the most common answers is simply: “hips.”
Which always makes me smile a little.
Because “the hips” is such a broad, catch-all phrase for something incredibly complex.
The hips are, of course, where the legs attach to the pelvis. And the pelvis – as one of my teachers (Judith Hanson Lasater) says – is “the center of everything.” Its orientation influences how the spine and legs are positioned as well as how the body organizes itself.
So when we say “hips,” we’re rarely just talking about one thing.
We’re talking about a joint that varies widely from person to person – in the depth and shape of the socket, the angle and rotation of the femur, and even from one side of the body to the other. We’re talking about a part of the body that develops over time, shaped not only by our structure, but by how we move (or don’t), how we sit, how we live.
There’s also some interesting research suggesting that the pelvis and hip region may be one of the most variable areas in the human skeleton – influenced by both evolutionary demands and environmental factors. In other words: variability isn’t the exception here, it’s the norm.
Why does this matter? Because it challenges the idea that there’s one “correct” way your hips should move, open, or look in a yoga pose.
It also helps explain why so many people experience discomfort, limitation, or confusion when it comes to this part of the body.
Which is exactly why I’m offering my next workshop: Yoga Therapy for the Hips.
This two-hour session won’t solve everything – and it’s certainly not meant to replace medical advice or care. But it will offer a more nuanced way of understanding your own body, along with practical tools you can use in your day-to-day life, all through the lens of yoga.
We’ll explore:
how the hips function within the larger system of the body
how habits (sitting, standing, activity levels) shape what you feel
simple, accessible practices to support mobility, stability, and ease
The intention is to help you relate to this part of your body with more clarity, more curiosity, and more choice.
This workshop is part of a larger Yoga Therapy series I’m offering this year – Low Back Care was last month, with Neck & Shoulders coming in October and Hands & Feet in November.
If your hips have ever felt like a mystery, a point of tension, or just something you’d like to take better care of, I’d love to have you there.
And, by the way, if you haven’t stood up in a while… please do so right now. Then take a few slow hula hoops – maybe 3–5 in each direction. Your hips will thank you.
In service of happier hips all around,
Nicole