Having taught yoga for 17 years, I see students struggle with mobility all the time. Often from sitting down at a desk all day or not having enough variety in their exercise routine. It all starts in the hips.
But improving strength and mobility in this area doesn't mean sitting in static stretches like frog pose or the pigeon stretch all day long. You have to mobilise the muscles surrounding the hip, like the glutes. These big, powerful muscles in the buttocks help in all daily movements, from climbing stairs to walking. When they are overworked in the gym (say you do lots of squats), stretching can be uncomfortable. When they are underworked, the connective tissues that surround the glutes and hips contract over time, a bit like shrink wrap, so stretching will also be uncomfortable. This can cause other muscles to compensate, creating imbalance and dysfunction.
