- Opens up the hip joint to allow power to flow through it without hindrance
- Exercises and loosens all the muscles of the legs, hips, back and core.
- Opens the front of the body which most Westerners find challenging
In kung fu and tai chi you learn to direct the force of your body through the centre. This is your waist and hip area. Yet it is often full of tension.
Most people spend a lot of the lives sitting down and when they walk their walking habits are unbalanced and lack grace and aliveness. All of this creates tension in the muscles surrounding the hips.
This exercise is another common exercise I do in class to begin loosening and warming students up.
This is an all round stretching and strengthening exercise. Virtually all muscles are involved. How many reps can you do?
How to do it
- Stand in horse stance – feet wider than shoulder width. You can either place your hands on your hips, thumbs pointing forward or raise them above your head as an additional shoulder stretch.
- Rotate your hips in a slow circle
- Be sure to push them forward as far as you can as well as back and to the sides
- Open the front of your body as you push your hips forward and bend your knees as you bring them backwards.
- Raise your arms for a deeper stretch