Heavenly Hips

"Absolute Best" i wrote to myself in bookmarks a couple years ago... "do this once a week when have 1 hour". And boy i wish i had. too many enticing and fabulous new practices to try here for that though!
This is truly what i look for and want in a regular practice: a little warm up, a strong Sur A+B, more flow, good strength building, a few balance challenges (is it just me or does our natural balance plummet fast after 40?), and some really luscious and challenging OUTER hip openers, with lots of breathing time. I still pause and hold them even longer, so it actually becomes an 80min practice... But truly-- this session is pure gold (esp for tight hips), and you Rachel...you are a true master and bright shiny light. TY.

thank you <3 beautiful in every way.

Good class. Knew I would feel it the next day.

This is miserable for someone with tight hamstring and relatively short limbs.

This has been my “go to” for the past couple of years, and I thank you for it! I always discover something new and use this video as my check in to see where I am at in terms of strength and flexibility and improvement. I am a 62 year old who has been in health and fitness since 1997 and always marvel when I come across this kind of a video that stays fresh. Thank you!!!

Thank you so much, Rachel! My hips have not felt this open and relaxed in a long time. I also needed to let go some frustration today, and this did it. I am a very grateful noodle ;)

I found the description for this class a little misleading. More strength than stretch. I was really looking for some juicy release for my hips and hamstrings, and while there is plenty of hip work, it was a little too advanced/intense for my tight hips today.

It's probably a great class for another day, but my sore and fatigued body was looking for release and not as much heat.

This class is SOO satisfying -- I feel the benefits for days afterward...which just makes me want to do it over and over again! Thank you, Rachel! Your fun, enthusiastic vibes are contagious and inspiring <3

Thank you Rachel!!! Your cues are spot on and I am able to get deeper into the poses following your instructions.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I've changed the difficulty to Intermediate I and included both Hatha and Vinyasa to the Style category, since Rachel's approach is a bit slower than a typical vinyasa class.

Perhaps this would better be categorized as a Vinyasa class? Many, many chaturangas and downward-facing dogs. It's a great class! Only pointing out so folks can better find what they're looking for.

You're amazing Rachel, thank you so much for this class. My hips love it!

Agree with others, that it's level 1, 2, 3 intermediate. The queuing is such that there's a little more explanation for moves, but lots of gradations to challenge oneself (as always with yoga). Much enjoyed the class.

Thanks Rachel! I loved the pace and buildup of this class. I agree with the last comment, though, that it is more advanced than Int 1, maybe Int 2 or 3, given the flying pigeon? It was great to have a longer outdoors ocean class with you!
Anna

A wonderful ADVANCED practice.

A beautiful class, thank you Rachel and all at DoYogaWithMe for making. this possible. I would say that you might want to change equipment from none to blocks as we used them quite a bit. Namaste.

Loved this one.. .... poss the best hip opener class I have ever done !! Thanks Rachel.. Thanks DYWM

Thank you, thank you, Rachel! I have been a subscriber for 4 years and your videos have been such a blessing! I have tried many others and keep coming back to yours. I have learned so much from you. And the way you sequence and pace your sessions truly helps me with some recurring lower back and hip issues. I have tried many others, but yours (and David's) just cannot be beat. I love your clear and compassionate instruction. Your pace is perfect. I have this one almost memorized, but I love having you help me pace myself. Again, thank you and blessings to you! (One day I will get to the peak pose in this one!!! Working on it!)

Rachel! You are my favorite, great balance of movement and explanation and very clear. And I feel really worked out and lose after. Thank you!

Thank you Rachel for all of those great classes ! You're being a great help and "cheer-bringer" to my friends and I through this complicated times, thousand thanks !

One of the many great teachers on this site. A comprehenvise and challenging hip opening practice.

Great for learning about the differences in your left and right sides - esp. hip area.

Thank you, Rachel. That was beautiful. I will revisit this one often.

Great class!! I loved the pace too!

Rachel is an excellent teacher, really clear and I like the pace of the class. Although it is a long class, it just flew by. A challenging class for me but the poses can be modified easily and it certainly does open the hips.

Rachel, you are an excellent instructor! Loved the class!

Thank you doyogawithme! Excellent class and clear teaching. I have tight hips, but after this class I truly feel my hips are relaxed. Thank you.

This was definitely a challenge for me, but I came out of it with my normally tight hips feeling like warm butter. Loved it! I can't wait to do this class again after I finish the 30 day challenge :)

What an amazing class! I've always felt my hips were my problem area but this class warmed them up to move in a way they never have before. This class taught potential, breaking down barriers: I started to feel what it would be like to move into a forward split for the first time. All I need to do now is practice!

This class was really challenging. My hips are my most difficult area, and on top of that I injured my groin last year and it never quite healed. This class was extremely humbling, but I'm glad that I did it, because it helped me to accept where my body is right now, and to work from there. That there's no rush, there's no hurry. Just allowing my body to be and breathe is enough. Thank you.

I was about to skip this class because I didn't think my hips needed extra attention. I was so wrong! This class opened my hips up in a way I didn't know was possible. I felt so much more open and energized after this class. Rachel gives great instruction and has wonderful energy.

What a great teacher, and also fantastic class with some really fun and challenging poses. Thank you.

So well done in such a beautiful place as well. Lot's of focus on hips which I need. Thank you.

Wow, that was a good challenge (did the simple version of the 'peak' pose and others), with great mix of hip openers I had forgotten. So good to have the online series, and today Rachel's inspiration - wouldn't have challenged myself in that way. Good sweat and detox, physically and mentally / emotionally. See how it'll feel later on today.... maybe time for a salt bath :-)

I am a few days behind in the challenge so I just finished day 7. I was doing the beginning workouts but decided to challenge myself today by doing an intermediate session, and this did challenge me in a very good way. This was just what I needed today. I used to be quite limber but have been inactive for many years, and now I am feeling my body starting to wake up. Thank you for your work and this site.

Challenging for sure. Hips are super tight, but feel great after that.

I am only half way through my preview for this video. But, thank you so much for mixing together such wonderful videos and helping me ease into poses I am fearful of but poses for which I am more ready than I thought.

Very good routine - few advanced postures but it's ok the challenge. Great setting! namaste

I don't normally make enough space in my days for full-length yoga practices such as this. I'm thankful for the 30 day challenge pushing me to make this long workout happen. Definitely seems about the same level (or even more advanced) than the "Advanced" classes I've done on this site. This was an amazing, intense class. I had a full body sheen of sweat by the end, and felt very stretched and good. Thank you Rachel!

Oh wow... this was a challenge! I am feeling sore today after a long day on the mountain yesterday and thought there was no way I could make it through. Somehow I made it (barely). Thanks for this... it was just what I needed today.

Reading he comments going into this class today I was worried it was going to be too challenging. I am so proud of myself that I was able to do everything except for the lifting feet off the ground while on hands. (Pig pose?) Yes!! Thank you for the great hip openers and for helping me build confidence in my practice!

Love this lesson.
I sweet a lot. :) ❤

Wow, this was a challenge! Maybe in my next lifetime! I am going to make myself feel better by putting this more into the expert category, Still, an excellent class. I just did what I could and feel good about it. As always, I'm in awe of the skill and strength of the DoYogaWithMe family!

Wow, that was awesome! Very challenging for my tight hips, but I needed it. I feel wonderful and open now. Thank you! Namaste :)

I'm short, tight and 62 years old. I could do only about 75% of this class, but enjoyed watching the rest. Thanks, teacher.