Deep Hip Stretch Yin

What this Yin class is

A slow, 25-minute Yin practice built entirely around the hips. We hold each shape for two to four minutes so the deeper tissues have time to soften and open — starting in a wide-leg child’s pose (sometimes called tadpole), melting into frog, then working side by side through swan, before we settle onto our backs for happy baby and a long, quiet savasana. It’s a simple sequence held long and slow, the kind that helps to release tightness you’ve been carrying in your hips without ever asking you to force. Come as you are — every pose has a gentler option and a deeper one.

Who this class is for

Anyone with tight hips who wants to open them gently — after a lot of sitting, a long day, or simply when the hips feel stiff and stuck. It’s wonderful if you’d like more ease and range through the hips over time, and it’s just as welcoming for beginners as for seasoned practitioners. New to Yin? Read the pose notes below first, keep your props close, and follow each shape at your own unhurried pace.

What you need

Just your mat and a warm, quiet space to be still. Have a few soft things nearby — a cushion, folded blanket, pillow, or a block or two — to slip under the hips, knees, or forehead wherever a little support keeps you comfortable. Nothing is required, but in the deeper hip shapes that padding can be a real kindness. Press pause any time you need to.

How Yin Yoga works — three simple cues

• Find your edge. Come to about 60–80% of your capacity — the orange zone, a real stretch but never the red zone of pain or strain. Don’t sacrifice your body for the glory of the pose.
• Hold for time. These poses are held two to four minutes; let the shape do the work, and come out slowly, sooner if you need to.
• Be still. Keep a little quiet activity in the body rather than collapsing, then soften your jaw, your face, your shoulders, and rest your attention on your breath.