8 Hip Stretches Your Body Really Needs

By Ravelle Worthington, SELF

We've all had those intense lower body workouts that leave you beyond sore, when just the thought of moving hurts. Rest easy though -- these stretches will open up your hips, groin, and legs, making your tomorrow a little bit easier. Because let's be honest, there's nothing like the day-after sore that follows a killer day in the gym.

Tight muscles aside, great hip mobility is beneficial when it comes to allowing your body to have the full range of motion it should. "If our hips aren't able to flex and move in the way our bodies intend them to, they don't become as useful as they should be, which means a lot of the load will fall onto your lower back," says Heidi Jones, head coach at BRICK NEW YORK. "This creates problems over time." And your hips are 100 percent designed to generate a ton of power. So go ahead girl, GET YOUR STRETCH on!

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