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Yoga with Laura: 3 Hip Adductor Stretches

Your hip adductor muscles attach on either side of your knee and run up the inside of your leg to your inner groin area in both of your legs. The hip adductor muscles shown below, are located on both sides of the body.

The hip adductor muscles can be the cause of a multitude of problems, such as pelvic, groin, testicular, or hip pain which can be difficult to treat based on your specific mobility limitations. You may struggle to achieve basic squatting or kneeling positions throughout your day, like reaching into a kitchen cabinet or cleaning the bathtub.

Medical diagram image of hip adductor muscles attached to bones with various labels

BENEFITS OF HIP ADDUCTOR STRETCH:

  • Decrease hip, abdomen, and pelvic pain
  • Aids with deepening squat
  • Helps with delivery
  • Allows accessibility to more intimacy positions
  • Aids with balance and stability

Hip adductor stretches can be done in a number of ways, and any of the variations mentioned here provides a perfect chance for gaining increased flexibility and range of motion. All of the demonstrated variations can be done on either side of your body. My accompanying YouTube video is a great way to check your form and see a sample of these variations!

Just beginning? Did you try to start 3 months ago and gave up? Feeling overwhelmed? Try some of these variations to find a new starting place for your journey. Hip adductor stretches can be done on either side, by themselves, or within a series of stretches , so let’s try to start reaping those benefits together today! Begin by relaxing deeply, focusing on your diaphragmatic breathing, and find what you need to be supported properly in the guide below.

EXERCISE! Practice your diaphragmatic breathing with this hip adductor stretch 3x daily. Hold for 90 seconds at a time. This hold time is important for your body to transition and downregulate. It may feel uncomfortable at first. Meet your body where it’s at and breathe through it.

VARIATION 1: SUPINE HIP ADDUCTOR STRETCH

OPTION 1

On back on mat feet soles together by buttocks knees bent and stretched out to sides hands on hips

This is the lying down version of the hip adductor stretch. Begin by laying on your back, place your feet together, soles flat on the floor or mat or bed that you are laying on. Then allow your knees to fall out to the sides, opening up the stretch through the inner portion of your thighs.

OPTION 2

On back feet soles together rest on yoga block near buttocks knees bent and stretched out to sides

If this stretch is a little too aggressive through the inner thighs or lower back, utilize yoga blocks, pillows, folded blankets or towels placed underneath your feet. This works to create a more comfortable tilt position for your pelvis.

VARIATION 2: SEATED HIP ADDUCTOR STRETCH

STEP 1

Sitting on floor feet soles together by pelvis knees bent and stretched out to sides hands on ankles

Begin by sitting cross-legged on the carpet, a blanket, or yoga mat. You will want something to provide a bit of support or cushion so you are able to move around in the stretch. Move your feet and place them soles together, and let your knees fall out to the side to feel that stretch through your adductors.

STEP 2

From here you can deepen the stretch through the length of your adductors by leaning forward.

Keep your torso nice and tall, bring your chest forwards and towards the ground. Make sure not to collapse your chest towards the ground, maintain your upright torso while bringing your chest to this position. This should require some gentle pelvic tilting on your part.

Focus your gaze on a spot about 6-12 inches from your feet, and lean in to feel that stretch. Many people place their hands on their feet or ankles here and pull, or you can stretch your arms forward palms down to deepen the stretch even further.

Meet your body where it is today, but if you’re feeling up to reaching, GO FOR IT!

OPTION 1

If you struggle to bring your knees down in this position, you can utilize a yoga block to slightly elevate the level of the floor.

Place the yoga block underneath your pelvis and repeat Steps 1 & 2. When you reach Step 2 your arms will help support your pelvic tilt in this stretch and may require a longer reach. From here tilt your pelvic and bend your elbows to allow your chest to drop and deepen the stretch.

But Laura! I can’t reach the ground, this is impossible!!

SHUSH YOU, no it is not, you CAN do this!

Grab a dining room or office chair and place it in front of you. Use the seat as support for your arms, allowing you to lean and deepen the stretch without going alllllll the way to the floor.

OPTION 2

STEP 1

Grab an office or dining chair, this stretch is great for those who sit a lot of their day. Sit with your buttocks resting on the front edge of the seat and separate both knees out to the side into a comfortable stretching position. Keep your ankles below your knees to focus the stretch through your knees and hips.

STEP 2

You can perform this stretch on either side of your body. For this example I’m utilizing my right leg.

Block your hand against the inside edge of your knee, or inner thigh, palm flat, pressing against the surface. Then turn your alternate shoulder, my left, away from that knee, twisting your torso (not the chair!) and pressing into your knee to feel the stretch through your adductors.

Make sure that you maintain a nice upright and stretched tall torso throughout, but without craning backwards through your shoulder or neck. You should feel the stretch by straightening your elbow and pushing through that palm.

VARIATION 3: STANDING HIP ADDUCTOR STRETCH

STEP 1

If you have issues with the floor or seated work required from the previous modifications, here is your best friend!
You will need….a floor and yourself! I also recommend facing a countertop so that you can utilize it for support, if you have balance concerns in this stretch.
Begin by standing with your feet apart, toes pointing forward, or around 45 degrees, about as wide apart as your wrists are when held out to the side.
Everyone is different, but the most important thing to consider is having enough room to weight shift from side to side in this stance.

STEP 2

2part image standing feet spread apart left leg straight right knee bends 2nd image torso lean left

This step can be performed on either side of the body; switch it up so that you get both of your hip adductors!
Choose one side and bend your alternate knee, keeping your knee straight and a nice upright torso, sink into that bend in your knee and hip. Lean your upright torso toward that straight leg, this will increase or intensify the stretch on the inner thigh of your straight leg.

ASK YOURSELF! As you work through these stretch options, check in and ask yourself: Is it a stretch, or is it a pain?

A stretch-like pulling sensation is normal, it may feel uncomfortable, but investigate that feeling. A stretching sensation should gradually reduce with time and allow you to continue to deepen throughout the position.

Pain, alternately, does not change, or may even increase in intensity. If you feel pain, gently ease out of that stretch and try again utilizing a different variation. There are lots of ones to choose from!

Want to stretch more than just your hip adductors? For a full range of poses and stretches, with a multitude of modifications, check out the following resources! Use these to design an individualized, daily plan to build healthy movement into your life!

PEVLIC YOGA POSES:

PEVLIC FLOOR STRETCHES:

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:

I LOVE the yoga store listed below for their quality, and variety of options, designed to meet all of your needs. Manduka is a great one-stop-shop for high-quality yoga products. They also sell clothing and other accessories to make those pelvic stretches possible for everyone.

Manduka

 

DISCLOSURE: Hi there! – I truly hope you love any product I recommend, I always try them out personally or with my patients. At times, I use affiliate links. You do not pay more, a small percentage of the sale goes to the person who has influenced your purchase. This helps me to continue offering free content. Let me know your experience! All pricing is up to date at the time of posting.

 

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