Your hip flexors could get tight and shorten if you sit a lot, which can lead to back problems. Runners, walkers and cyclists can also benefit from the following simple yoga moves to stretch the hip flexors.

Take some time for yourself and do your hip flexors a favor. Just try out the below simple yoga moves to get your hip flexors opened and loosen and ease back pain.

Lunge:

This stretch focuses on the hips, groins and quadriceps.

Starting from a standing position, exhale and step your left foot back and lower it to the floor with your hands framing your front foot. You can place your hands on Blocks if the floor is too far. Just be sure to keep your right foot between your hands, and directly below your knee.

Inhale and lift your chest to reach up and forward, pressing the shoulder blades in against the back. Keeping your hips square, draw the tailbone down and gently pull your belly in towards your spine. Hold here for a deeper stretch.

Crescent Lunge (Anjaneyasana variation):

This pose opens the front of the body, extends the spine and builds leg-strength and balance. The psoas muscle of the main hip flexor is targeted, as the thigh bone moves away from the lower back. The nervous system is awakened and the heart is opened.

From a lunge pose, Inhale and reach the arms above the head and soften the shoulders away from the ears. Feet are hip width apart and both toes face forward. Keep your pelvis square to the front of your mat. Draw the left hip forward and right hip back to keep the hips square, and tuck your tailbone in to keep the pelvis from tipping forward.

Warrior I (Virabradhasana I)

In Warrior I, the fact that you turn out the toes of the back foot leads to an increase in hip flexion. If you press into the outer edge of your back foot, you will notice the hips square off more easily. This pose builds strength and steadiness, as it increases body awareness, improves circulation and energizes the entire body.

From crescent lunge, drop the back foot to 45 degrees.

Exhale soft into the front bent knee, keeping it at 90 degrees. Always ensure the knee is in one line with the ankle.