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This 20-minute beginner workout focuses on 20 minute beginner yoga for hips and spine. Led by StarFit, it targets hips, spine, lower back with evidence-based exercises designed for women of all fitness levels.

Exercise Breakdown

17 exercises in Workout 7

Cool-down1 exercise
53s
21:01
Reclined Bound Angle & Window Wipers

Heel-toe the feet out as wide as your mat and just window wipe.

hipsinner thighslower back
low
yoga16 exercises
20m
0:45
Child's Pose

Walk your hands forward and let your forehead just rest onto the mat.

spinehipslower backquads
low
3:31
Cat-Cow Stretch

Inhale, dip your belly, lift the heart, lift the chest, the chin.

spineneckshoulderscore
low
4:21
Torso Circles (Washing Machine)

Take a couple little circles with your torso out here, so kind of like you're in a washing machine.

spineshoulderships
low
4:51
Lizard Pose with Hip Pulses (Right Side)

Inhale, lift your hips up a little, and then exhale, drop your hips down.

hipship flexorsglutes
medium
6:21
Lizard Twist with Elbow Taps (Right Side)

Rotate the right elbow up, and then right elbow taps the block or taps the mat.

spinehipsshoulders
medium
7:11
Half Split (Right Side)

Rock down and release forward.

hamstringscalveslower back
medium
8:01
Gate Pose Variation with Hip Rocks (Right Side)

Left hip comes back to the left heel, and then back up.

inner thighshipsankles
medium
9:11
Half Frog Pose (Right Side)

Roll to the inside edge of this left knee.

inner thighshipshamstrings
high
10:31
Pigeon Pose with Optional Quad Stretch (Right Side)

Right knee behind your right wrist... slide the left leg back.

gluteshipsquadship flexors
high
12:41
Three-Legged Downward Dog & Scorpion Tail (Right Side)

Keep the knee bent. Try push the toes towards your left fingertips.

hipsspineshouldershamstrings
medium
13:31
Lizard Pose & Twist (Left Side)

Left foot steps to outside edge of left fingertips.

hipship flexorsglutesspine
medium
15:31
Half Split & Gate Variation (Left Side)

Push hips back to find your half-split position.

hamstringsinner thighscalves
medium
17:01
Half Frog Pose (Left Side)

Roll to the inside edge of this right knee.

inner thighships
high
18:01
Pigeon Pose (Left Side)

Left knee behind left wrist... slide the right leg back.

gluteshipsquads
high
19:41
Malasana (Yogi Squat)

Sinking your hips down into malasana... push the knees apart.

hipspelvic floorankleslower back
medium
20:21
Happy Baby Pose

Sway a little side to side, give your back a bit of a massage.

hipslower backhamstrings
low

Muscles Targeted

Primary

hipsspinelower back

Secondary

hamstringsinner thighsshoulders

Equipment & Modifications

Equipment Needed

  • mat

Don't Have Equipment?

You can substitute with:

thick towelcarpet

Available Modifications

  • Use blocks or a pillow for support
  • Use blocks for more space
  • Hands on blocks
  • Rest forehead on a block
  • Use a block under the hip
  • Reach back for the foot for a deeper quad stretch
  • Use blocks
  • Optional quad stretch

Coaching Highlights from StarFit

Take a couple little circles with your torso out here, so kind of like you're in a washing machine.

Form

Trying your best not to move too much, unless you're gonna rock forward and back.

Safety

Pull the left heel in to your back left hip.

Modification

Deep stretch is about pausing, about listening and connecting to your bodies.

Motivation

I believe movement should feel good first and challenge you second. When I design a stretch sequence, I'm thinking about the woman who's been hunched over her laptop for eight hours, the one whose shoulders live somewhere near her ears. We start gentle. We earn the deeper stretches.

Form

Health Benefits

Women navigating Pelvic Floor, anxiety will find this session particularly relevant. The focus on hips and spine addresses the specific tension patterns and movement deficits that often accompany these conditions. No prior experience needed — every movement has a modification.

Relevant For

anxietyback painchronic painflexibilityhip paininsomniapelvic floorposturesciaticastress

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Workouts & Topics

About the Trainer

StarFit

Yoga Trainer

From: Deep Stretch Yoga