If you can imagine, your spine is like a mast with the psoas acting like guy ropes, stabilisers keeping your spine erect, this is when the psoas is working properly. Diagonal support is also given by the psoas through the trunk and supporting vital organs.
A healthy, balanced psoas will massage the spine and organs when walking also the blood vessels and nerves are massaged. When all is working well the psoas will stimulate the flow of fluids throughout the body, revitalising it.
If you have a short psoas this can lead to other unfortunate conditions as other muscle groups start to compensate for the imbalance. All sorts of physical issues can reduce the healthy working of your psoas. The greater the rotation in the thigh bones the less chance of injury and imbalance to the rest of the body. With less rotation, energy is transferred to the knees and lower spine setting yourself up for injuries in these areas.
What are you feeling in your knees and lower back when sat or standing during your yoga practice? If you feel strain in these areas then it could be that your body is telling you to lengthen your psaos. Your psoas relates to other areas and functions in the body, if one set of muscles are not working as they should then another set will try to lighten the load, and then another doing the same to THAT area doing the compensating, which then leads to overdeveloped muscles. It all has a knock on effect.
There are many poses and variations to help release your psoas from the Constructive Rest Position, Active Supine Stretch, Ultimate Stretch, Modified Pigeon Pose, Tree Pose and simple cross legged Pose to name just a few. The more that we can release the psoas in our yoga practice the greater the benefit. We need to soften the tension in the psoas to help release it.
Even by practicing the smallest attempt of stretching to your psoas on a regular basis will begin to show a benefit. The more you practice the greater the well being you will feel as the psoas will interact with other muscle groups and bring them into balance.
Practicing yoga is a wonderful leveller, it’s a journey of discovery of who you are and taking you toward inner peace. As I started by saying in my opinion the psoas is a much under rated muscle. Perhaps you now think the same. Take care of yours.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert who loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder or back pain with yoga.
He is dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
