In one aspect, a restraining assembly for an awake animal within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device is provided and includes a body restrainer having a first part and a second part that hold a body of the awake animal therebetween. The assembly is of a dual coil design in that it has a volume coil for generating an excitation RF signal and an RF surface coil for receiving an RF response from the animal. The assembly further includes components that serve to restrain movements of the animal, thereby eliminating motion artifacts during the MRI procedure. For example, the assembly preferably includes an adjustable hip holder that has a first section that seats against and applies a restraining force to a buttocks/hip area of the animal and a second section that is adjustably coupled to a pivoting member that is attached to the first section of the body restrainer such that the hip holder is adjustable in both a longitudinal direction along a length of the body restrainer and an up/down direction within the body restrainer between the first and second parts thereof. The pivoting member having features that permit the hip holder to be locked in a desired location so that a sufficient restraining force is applied the animal.