How do I calm outer-hip pain (bursitis)?

Pain on the outside of the hip - sore to lie on at night, grumpy on the stairs - is what many people call hip bursitis: a little cushion on the side of the hip getting irritated. Underneath it, the real story is usually tightness and imbalance in the muscles around the hip and glute, which pull on that spot and keep it inflamed. Long sitting, weak hips and overuse all feed it.

Gravity Stretching helps by releasing the deep hip muscles that keep tugging on the sore spot, using slow, supported stretches where the straps carry your weight so the hip never has to brace. Taking the load off lets the area calm down, and as the surrounding muscles let go, the outer hip stops getting pulled and irritated. We start small and only ever within your comfort - we improve the body, we do not exhaust it.

Give it a gentle, regular rhythm rather than one hard stretch. This is a wellness practice, not medical treatment - if the hip is hot, badly swollen, or the pain is severe or came from a fall, see a doctor first.