A Move You Should Do MONDAY – Side Sit-to-Kneel

Today’s move is the side sit-to-kneel transition, a simple move that helps loosen one of the most important joints of your body, the ball-and-socket hip joint.

Here’s how to do it:

Sit on the floor and get into a side sitting position with your feet to one side
Get up to kneeling as you rotate towards the front leg. You should feel a slight stretch in the front of the back leg (hip flexor)
Return to the starting position and repeat 6-10 times
Then switch to the opposite side sitting position and repeat to the other side

Why does this matter?

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket designed for rotation. Abnormal postures, such as prolonged sitting or walking with your toes turned out can, over time, cause your hips to lose rotation. Tightness in the deep hip muscles: piriformis (involved in sciatica), obturator internus (sometimes involved urinary stress incontinence), quadratus femoris and the gemelli may occur which in turn inhibits the largest and most important muscle of your body, the gluteus maximus.

Give the side sit-to-kneel a try. Just a few repetitions a day can unlock the important rotation of your hip joints. Your knees and lower back will thank you.

Because nobody has time to be in pain.

Until next time…