fitness: How HIP are You? (part 1)

One of the chief complaints of people seeking physical therapy is hip pain.  

When I was working in a physical therapy clinic, so many of my patients were coming in for hip-related issues, even without regard to age.  Due to our sedentary society, we suffer from muscle disuse, joint stiffness, and loss of core strength when we don't regularly exercise (and as we age, there is bone loss if we do not pick up weight-lifting or supplement with calcium).

But there is hope!  Strengthening and stretching can save you from pain and inflexibility, furthering your fitness goals and transforming your body.  

And come springtime, when not heavily covered head to toe in a parka, you may want to be your most fit, healthy self.

In part 1 of "How HIP are You?" I have created a workout, mostly mat based, that will rock your hips and your world.  It lets you enjoy the warm indoors, so you can ignore said parka.  Level 1 maintains the basic movements of each hip strengthening exercise, then Levels 2 and 3 (soon to come on the blog!) will incorporate stability challenges designed to also target your core.  It requires no equipment, just your body and your motivation.  Enjoy!

Let me know how it goes and comment if you have any exercise questions.  Don't forget to at least warm-up for five minutes and take time to stretch out after the workout.  

Written in front of a space heater,

Sarah, the Culture Thrift