A Yoga Hip Opener Travel Nurses Can Practice Just About Anywhere

There are days when it’s difficult to get away from work to exercise or practice yoga. Fear not! The beauty of yoga is that it really can be practiced anywhere and everywhere. Being on your feet for extended periods of time as a travel nurse, or sitting at a desk for hours on end, creates tension and tightness throughout the neck, shoulders, back and hips.

On-the-go yoga is an easy and efficient way to stretch and strengthen, at your own convenience. Here is a wonderful hip-opener that you can practice to relieve tension and re-energize your mind, body and spirit.

How-to Do a Seated Figure Four:

1. To prepare, sit on the front edge of a chair with your knees hip-width distance apart and your feet stacked directly under your knees.
2. Place your right ankle on top of your left knee and flex your foot to maintain the alignment of your ankle to the knee.
3. Root down through your sitting bones, lengthen your spine, and tilt your pelvis forward. While hinging at the hips, extend your heart space beyond your front shin.
4. Take 5-6 breaths. Switch legs and repeat on the other side.

Benefits:

• Increases flexibility in your hip area.
• Relieves compression in the spine by lengthening and stretching the hip flexors.
• Relieves anxiety, tension and stress.
• In yoga, hip openers often coincide with emotional release as well.

This yoga tip is brought to you by Kathryn McCann of Hang Zen Yogis.