Heart & Hips

About Heart and Hip Openers

Heart and Hip Openers brings together two deeply connected areas of the body in one practice — the chest and shoulders, and the hips. The class combines gentle backbends and chest-opening postures with deep hip stretches, working to release tension that tends to build up in both areas from daily life, long hours of sitting, and emotional stress. Many practitioners find this combination especially grounding, as opening the hips is often described in yoga tradition as a way to release stored tension alongside the physical stretch.

Key Benefits

• Improved Hip Mobility – Deep, sustained hip stretches help ease stiffness and increase range of motion over time.
• Opens the Chest and Shoulders – Gentle backbends counteract the effects of hunching over screens and desks.
• Eases Emotional and Physical Tension – Combining these two focus areas offers a practice many find deeply releasing, both physically and emotionally.
• Improved Posture – Opening the chest and hips together supports better overall alignment.
• Reduced Stress – The slow, deliberate pace encourages relaxation and mindful breathing throughout.
• Accessible to All Levels – Poses can be modified with props to suit a range of flexibility and experience levels.

What to Expect

Class opens with a gentle warm-up before moving into a sequence of deep hip-opening poses — think pigeon pose, lizard pose, and seated hip stretches — held for longer periods to allow the muscles to truly release. The practice then shifts toward gentle backbends and chest-opening postures, helping to counterbalance the hip work and open the front of the body. Props like blocks and bolsters are available throughout to support a comfortable, sustained stretch, and the class closes with a quiet rest period to let the body settle.

Ready to open your hips and heart? Book your Heart and Hip Openers class at Avata today.