“Open” hips are a top priority for many yogis, and for good reason: Maintaining flexibility and stability in the hip joints is crucial for lower-back health, not to mention for cultivating overall freedom and ease in our bodies. And opening the hips can be particularly helpful when it comes to sitting comfortably for extended periods of time in meditation. In this sequence, we’ll warm up with standing postures to strengthen the outer hips, ensure stability and proper positioning of the femur in the hip socket, release tension in the lower back, and stretch the inner thighs. With the outer hips “turned on,” the inner thighs prepared, and the core awake, you’ll more readily launch into the peak pose—Flying Pigeon. (Remember, even if this pose feels out of reach, there is benefit in the attempt!) Finally, we’ll move into deeper stretches on the floor to help release any trapped physical and emotional tension.