I recently covered a walking workout from trainer Justin Agustin and found myself falling in love with his no-nonsense approach to fitness. So when I was suffering with tight hips after a heavy lower-body lifting session I decided to dig into his previous Instagram reels to see if there was a mobility routine that could help.
I found a quick and efficient one-move session from the trainer that was easy to replicate at home. I practiced the 90-second move throughout the day, using my kitchen counter for support as Augustin does in his reel. Here’s how it impacted my hips.
How to do the workout
My results
1. My hips felt looser
My hips are a problem area for me but they felt a lot looser after doing this move. It only took 90 seconds but I no longer felt tightness in my hip flexors or limited movement in my hip joint.
Hip health is vital for good aging, and good mobility "is linked to longevity, as it supports proper posture and alignment, reducing the risk of chronic pain and musculoskeletal issues," explains Agustin in his caption.
2. I could do it while my coffee was brewing
I can’t stress enough how important it is to be able to slot fitness into my day and this worked as a form of exercise snacking for me. Whenever I went to make a cup of coffee I did Agustin’s hip routine, completing five run-throughs in total across the day.
By the time I sat down with my final cup, I could feel the benefits. My hips felt looser after the first session, but by the fifth, I could feel the impact elsewhere in my body too as the exercise relaxed my lower back and glutes. As with all of Agustin’s workouts, this session is short and sweet, but you can choose to repeat it as many times as you like to reap further benefits.
3. My evening dog walk was more comfortable
After sitting at a desk all day my hip flexors usually feel tight. These muscles (the ones that run down the front of your pelvis) need regular extension if you have a sedentary job, otherwise, they can shorten and become less mobile.
I usually find that my hips are sore when I finally log off for the day and take my dog for a walk. They feel particularly tight when walking up hills, which can cause knock-on pain in my lower back. However, as I had been giving my hips some maintenance throughout the day, I felt much better. I could move far more comfortably and freely, even when tackling steep slopes.
Want more routines like this one? Check out these hip-strengthening exercises or have a go at these hip stretches to undo the damage of sitting.
