Tight Hips

Ok, I need some suggestions and some help. As a Pilates instructor I have a keen eye and sense about OTHER peoples bodies, however, when it comes to my own that is a completely different issue. As it is hard at any one time to have a 360 degree view of your own body I am asking for help.

It seems over time my hips have gotten very tight. My leg kicks forward and back used to have a larger range of motion than they do now. My forward kick is where I am getting stuck. The odd thing is the tightness feels as if it is in the front of the hip joint and not from the hamstring. It almost feels as if either the tfl or the rf is jamming in the front of the hip restricting my motion. Could that be? Any suggestions or thoughts would be invaluable to me.