Tip: The Easiest Hip Flexor Stretch

If you're like the average American, you sit 7.7 hours per day. This causes your hip flexors to become short, tight, and angry. The result? Low back issues, glute dysfunction and even breathing problems since your hip flexors overlap with your diaphragm.

Many of the stretches and mobility techniques out there are hard to get into, hard to hold, or just plain don't feel good. Take for example the common kneeling hip flexor stretch:

Most people don't get much relief from this stretch. This could be because the hip flexor is too busy trying to help you stay upright to relax and take a load off. But the stretch below is different. In fact, it's one of the easiest, most comfortable, and most effective hip flexor mobilizers around.

A Better Way

This stretch puts the hip flexors in a passive, relaxed position. Many stretches keep your hip flexor activated simply by the position of the stretch. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but putting your hip flexor into a more passive position will allow for a deeper release because it will be taking a break.

This stretch is based on a mobility technique involving fascial stretching and mobility. While there's still some debate in the fitness world about fascial stretching, many who actually try this technique rave of the benefits.

Fascia is the connective tissue surrounding your muscles, bones, and even your organs. Think of it like a spider web wrapping around everything in your body. So when your fascia loses mobility, so do your muscles and everything else. It's all connected.

Fascial stretching is different than traditional stretching in that it focuses on relaxing the fascia, which then allows all other "tight spots" to loosen simultaneously. This stretch is designed to increase the pliability of the fascia surrounding the hip flexors and other supporting structures. This elicits more complete mobility and relaxation, and has a longer lasting effect because you're targeting all the problem areas instead of just one.