Guys And Hips

I've been going to yoga for a while and like anyone who's been practicing some regular form of exercise, I have become more aware how my body works. One particular part is the hips.

Most guys have been brought up to 'walk like a man'. You know, legs apart, strutting their stuff. Guys also sit like their jewels need airing. So generally knees apart. What many guys don't realize is that after years of moving and sitting that way, the hips have had to adjust, slowly but surely, to make our 'open' position viable.

Many guys also suffer from lower back pain. Guess what? Your manly gait and wide kneed sitting position is partially to blame. When the hips adjust to make wide waking possible, the bones squeezed around the muscles and nerves around the base of the spine. Over decades and once your body shape decided to lock in, the hips sort of locked in place too, forever tightening the grip around the spine. Hence the occasional discomfort or pain.

Some weeks ago, the yoga class instructor came up to me as I was crouched in the foetal position facing up, trying to bring my knees to my chest (wind relieving pose for transverse colon) and told me to keep my knees together. So I did and quickly realized that that action allowed my lower back to relax further. Wow. I felt a release of tension. So simple and unassuming a movement with glorious repercussions. I found it easier to flatten my spine and managed to squeeze in tighter.

Try it. I'm not saying you gotta start walking funny or sitting pretty. Just try lying in bed, knees up to the chest, arms around knees squeezing them in. Then breathe, long and deep, several times. You'll feel the tension leave as the lower back relaxes. Do it a few times a week. Over time you'll realign your hips and spine.

And by "over time", I mean years. You've got the rest of your life.