We may not always notice, but our hips get a lot of use. Hip flexors are the muscles that are near the top of our legs and are responsible for a lot of the movement in our lower legs, such as bringing the knees to the chest. If you find yourself sitting a lot, you may notice the need to stretch your legs. This is because your body is in the same position for long amounts of time, thus stiffening the hip muscles.

To bring flexibility back to your hips, try this stretch:

• Stand with your legs parallel and hip width apart.
• Take one big step back with your right leg. The left leg is bent (make sure your knee is behind your toes!), while the right will be extended straight, with just enough bend in the knee to not hyperextend it.
• Gently lean your upper body back, which stretches the front of your right hip flexor.
• Hold for 20-30 seconds.
• Step both feet together, then repeat on other side.

Do this stretch throughout the day, especially if you find yourself sitting often.