Yoga and Anterior Pelvic Tilt

Yoga and Anterior Pelvic Tilt

The anterior pelvic tilt is a hot topic in yoga and in manual medicine. Some people are overly concerned about the fact that their pelvis is tilting anteriorly without even understanding what it means. Let’s simplify the issues behind this increasingly common postural variation and learn how it can affect other parts of our body.

A normal pelvic angle is 30°; this means that our posterior superior iliac spines (the dimples above our bottoms) are slightly higher than our anterior superior iliac spines (the bones that stick out at the front of our pelvis). This angle can vary a few degrees either anteriorly or posteriorly due to our genetic makeup and even temporarily due to tight and/or weak muscles. An anterior pelvic angle of 40° is considered excessive and will produce a lower back (lumbar spine) curve that is also extreme. Our lumbar spine should have an anterior curve which is known as a lordosis; however, when this curve is excessive it is known as a hyperlordosis, which is not ideal. Cases of increased pelvic angles and lumbar hyperlordoses are very prevalent in today’s society.

Causes of increased lumbar lordosis include:

  1. Postural deformity
  2. Lax muscles, especially the abdominal muscles in combination with tight muscles, especially hip flexors or lumbar extensors
  3. A heavy abdomen, resulting from excess weight or pregnancy
  4. Compensatory mechanisms that result from another deformity, such as an increased curve in the thoracic spine (mid-back)
  5. Hip flexion contracture
  6. Spondylolisthesis (displacement of the vertebra above with relation to the vertebra below)
  7. Congenital problems, such as bilateral congenital dislocation of the hip
  8. Fashion (e.g., wearing high-heeled shoes)

Magee, J. David. Orthopedic Physical Assessment: Fourth Edition. Saunders. Toronto. 2002.

Cause number two from the list above is the reason that affects most. The majority of the population sits for at least eight hours a day while hunched over a desk at work; this can lead to a generic condition known as lower cross syndrome. This disorder consists of the following muscular issues: Weak or inhibited gluteal muscles and abdominals & Tight and shortened hip flexors and lumbar extensors

To better visualize this, observe the illustration that demonstrates lower cross syndrome. Take note of how the two weak/inhibited muscles create one line of the cross and the two tight/shortened muscles create the other line to complete the shape of a cross, hence lower cross syndrome.

When our hip flexors are tight, specifically our psoas, our pelvis rotates forward by the psoas pulling down on the lumbar spine from its attachment sites; this increases our lumbar lordosis and subsequently shortens our lumbar extensor muscles. This is most often seen in combination with weak abdominal and gluteal muscles.

Now that the reasons for this postural condition have been noted, the way to correct it is clear: reverse the causes. However, the distinction between inhibited muscles and weak muscles must be made first before rehabilitation can effectively begin. Inhibited muscles require the re-establishment of correct muscle firing patterns, while weak muscles need to be strengthened. Some individuals have weak muscles that are not inhibited; some have the reverse, and some have both issues to correct. Tight/shortened muscles require lengthening; sometimes stretching is sufficient and sometimes alternative soft tissue treatments such as Active Release Technique® and Graston Technique® are required to decrease scar tissue and increase the range of motion of the particular muscle.

If you are concerned that you may have lower cross syndrome, or simply a pelvic tilt, paying a visit to your manual health care practitioner (sports focused chiropractor, sports physician) will be well worth the time and money. They will be able to diagnose any underlying issues related to this condition and create an appropriate rehabilitation programs specific to the weaknesses and inhibitions they find upon physical examination. They will also be able to reduce scar tissue that may be contributing to your pelvic tilt (anterior or posterior).

Education is the ticket to eliminating these sorts of conditions from society. If we understand how to mitigate the risks for such generic conditions, we will all be much healthier individuals. Here is to learning more about our bodies!

Learn More about Dr. Carla Cupido.



Passive Stretch to Open the Hips

Passive Stretch to Open the Hips

Open hips are a kind of holy grail in the world of yoga. If your hips are tight some of the most basic movement in yoga will be an eternal challenge. Lotus and half lotus posture is almost taken for granted in traditional yoga practices. Not every student of yoga has naturally open hips.

Those that are born tight suffer and strive to open their hips. If you rush the process of opening the hips the weaker joints nearby, most often the knees, take the brunt of the pressure and can often end of up injured.

While it’s easy to push hard and over-exert yourself in any activity it’s harder to find the perfect balance between activation and release that will create health and healing in the body. If you have tight hips and you want them to open your mission is not to open your hips but to find that healing balance.

If you practice a traditionally active style of yoga like Ashtanga Yoga and your hips are tight then it can be very useful to supplement your daily practice with some additional passive stretching. There are many stretches that can help target your hips, but this one will prepare your body especially well for lotus and half lotus position.

Called double pigeon, you want to go into this movement with a relaxed, almost meditative mind. Do not seek to strive or force anything. Bend both knees about half way and stack the right leg on top of the left so that the right foot is on top of the left knee and the left foot is underneath the right knee. If it’s uncomfortable to sit here then just stay in position.

If you are comfortable fold forward and relax all unnecessary effort. Breath freely and effortlessly. Surrender your body into the floor and place your mind on the inner body. See if you can feel the external rotation of your hip joints. Place your mind deep within the pelvis and be sure not to fight or struggle with yourself. Just be exactly where you are. Hold the first side for between one and give minutes. Then switch sides.

Adding a passive stretch like this to your daily yoga practice can help relax the mind and body and balance what may be a sometimes overly aggressive attempt to force the body to open. If you do try this posture the calm, meditative mind is perhaps the most beneficial aspect of the movement.

Read Article

More In Focus

Our unique blend of yoga, meditation, personal transformation, and alternative healing content is designed for those seeking to not just enhance their physical, spiritual, and intellectual capabilities, but to fuse them in the knowledge that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.


Use the same account and membership for TV, desktop, and all mobile devices. Plus you can download videos to your device to watch offline later.

Desktop, laptop, tablet, phone devices with Gaia content on screens

Discover what Gaia has to offer.

The video streaming platform exploring Focus, and Joints and Anatomy

Testing message will be here

Discover what Gaia has to offer.

Testing message will be here