Namaste Anne. This is a common experience, Anne, especially for those of us who grew up in the west and never spent a lot of time sitting on the floor. A pet theory of mine is that its largely the fault of a Mr Thomas Crapper who invented the first sit-down toilet in Victorian times! Before this, we would move into a sort-of squatting position three or four times a day which would help to keep the hips healthy. (Not to mention being better for the eliminative organs...but I digress...)

Muscularly, the hip flexors have an enormous effect on the structure and posture of the body. Difficulty with the hips can be the cause of a lot of back pain and discomfort. The psoas muscle has a lot of effect on the hips too, as does the piriformis. Ask your instructor to show you the piriformis releases so you can practice them at home. Too much sitting in chairs, lack of emotional support or emotional trauma all play a part in our bio-mechanical make-up. Structural inbalances can date all the way back to our first baby steps and your hips, or to be more exact, your pelvis is really the foundation of a well-balanced posture.