You maybe totally unfamiliar with its name, but your psoas muscle plays an essential role in spinal health.
There are 3 significant muscles in your body that connect the spine to the legs. These include the gluteus maximus, piriformis, and psoas muscles.
The psoas muscle attaches to the vertebrae on your lumbar spine, and then crosses the outer edge of each pubis (near your pelvis). It next joins with the iliacus muscle at your inguinal ligament (in your groin region), and finally attaches at your femur. Your iliacus and psoas muscles are together known as the iliopsoas.
Among the most significant muscles that overlay the vertebral column the psoas, also an important core muscle, contributes to flexion of the hip joint, lateral rotation of the hip and flexion of the thigh/trunk. When you sit for extended periods of time, your psoas muscle may become tight. This, in turn, can pull your pelvis forward—which places pressure on your lumbar spinal discs. This additional pressure often results in lower back pain. Tightness or imbalance in the tone of the psoas can cause other (often overlooked) issues too. These include: difficulty focusing, sitting still or relaxing, irritability, sadness, anger, fatigue, problems falling asleep or sleeping well and digestive issues
Common symptoms of a tight Psoas
The only way to change the resting level of muscle tension being set by the nervous system is through active movement.
Modern, sedentary lifestyles encourages sitting, be it at a desk or in a car, for hours and when combined poor diets, our muscles struggle to glide and contract smoothly. Therefore, over time the muscle fibres get shortened and less flexible, resulting in poor posture and causing other muscles to overwork.
How to release tension in the Psoas
Click the box below to follow a short routine to learn how to release tension in the Psoas and pelvis area.
If you enjoyed Shaena’s short routine and would like to explore further the benefits of working the Psoas muscle Shaena is holding a Psoas and Deep Core workshop on Friday 7 July.
What is a Psoas and Deep Core Workshop?
The workshop is hosted in a relaxed studio environment with 11 other participants. There is no need to bring anything with you as all equipment is provided.
Shaena will teach slow moving releases and stretches adaptable to individual ability with modifications given for comfort and care.
Some moves will be holding positions in breath work and some will be of a slow flowing nature, combined with somatic physical therapy for best results.
Please wear comfortable clothes, NO ZIPS or RESTRICTIVE CLOTHING. It is recommended to wear a couple of layers as often detoxing the muscles so deeply can change the body temperature. PLEASE WEAR SOCKS.
