Psoas - the "muscle of the soul" can trigger fear and anxiety
The location of the psoas muscle near the hip bone makes this hip flexor and core stabilizer affect mobility, structural balance, joint function, flexibility, and more. In addition to the psoas' function of helping the body stay upright and in motion, it is also believed to give permission to connect you to the present moment, especially when the muscle is stretched and tension is released.
Psoas - hip flexor muscle
Where is the psoas located?
The psoas is the principal muscle (group of muscles) associated with physical stability. The muscle extends from the twelfth thoracic vertebra (the lowest vertebra in the thoracic spine), four of the lumbar vertebrae, and the upper part of the hip bone follows down through the pelvis before attaching to the upper part of the thigh bone (femur). It is the only muscle that extends from the legs to the spine.
A tight psoas is the number one reason for lower back pain
In our daily lives, we sit far too many hours per day when our body is actually created for movement. This passivity affects your psoas in a negative way so that it becomes short, tight, and stiff. Because of this, a tight psoas can cause seemingly unrelated symptoms like back pain, leg pain, hip pain, bladder pain, pelvic pain, and give you digestive issues.
The "reptilian" connection
As well as having a link between the bones and the spine, the psoas is also connected to the diaphragm. Breathing is modulated at the diaphragm, which is also a place where many physical symptoms associated with fear and anxiety reside. Due to this, the direct connection between the psoas and the most ancient part of our brain stem and spine is called the reptilian brain.
The way we live today - always going somewhere, competing, and performing, keeps the psoas in a constant "fight or flight" state.
Chronic stress-related problems in the psoas area
By being stuck in a constant "fight or flight" state, the psoas muscle becomes stressed and constricted, this happens almost from birth. The situation is exacerbated by many things in our modern lifestyle, from car seats to our clothing, from chairs and their upholstery to shoes that distort our posture and cut down on our natural movements, and consequently, constrict our psoas. This lifelong chronic stress put on our psoas can lead to many problems, such as mentioned back pain, hip or knee pain, digestive problems, as well as dysfunctional breathing. A psoas put on “fight and flight mood” can be the big reason why people suffer from chronic physical pain.
The physical body is not the only part that suffers from chronically stressed psoas. The psoas is much more than a muscle used for structural stability. It influences all components of life, from how you feel to how you view the world and even how you interact with others. A variety of problems have been associated with a chronically stressed psoas muscle:
* it can negatively affect your emotional state
* it can influence your general satisfaction with life
Recognizing that a healthy psoas is important for emotional well-being, just like physical health, is the first step to making sure you give the muscle the attention it needs.
A summary is that whether you suffer from a sore back or from anxiety, from knee strain or from exhaustion, there's a good chance that a tight psoas can be one of the main reasons.
Fear linked to the psoas
As our psoas is closely linked to our "fight or flight" mechanism, fear may be over-represented in those with the constricted psoas. It is an emotion that expresses itself in unusual ways and can "lock" itself to the body, resulting in physical as well as emotional tension. By restoring balance to the psoas muscles, the trapped tension is likely to be released, which can have a profound effect on releasing unfounded fears about life, thereby improving both physical and mental well-being. You will feel inner peace, as well as fewer muscle aches and tension.
Yoga is a great way of practice for your psoas to be soft and more flexible. First of all, teach your psoas to relax properly. When your psoas is smoother, it is easier and more effective to start to stretch it as well.
The growing effect of neglecting the muscle is physical and mental stress and tension, which manifests in our society through anxiety, depression, chronic back pain, knee pain, digestive problems, and breathing problems among others. The psoas is an important muscle, yet still often unrecognized, that plays a crucial role in your overall health - physical, physiological, and emotional.
A smooth supportive practice for your psoas muscles
* Lay on your back with bent knees and let your pelvis relax down to the floor for 2-3 minutes
* Cradle your legs from side to side (windshield wiper) 5-10 times
* Lift and lower your hips 5-10 times
* Relax your sacrum on a yoga block for 1-3 minutes
This practice can create miracles for your psoas and your lower back. Do it on a daily basis to release tension first. After a few weeks, you can start stretching your psoas, f.i. with low lunge (Anjaney asana)
Namasté