Where Is Stress Stored In The Body?
Stress is often stored in one of the largest muscles in the body, the Illiopsoas. The Illiopsoas is a combination of two muscles often called ” the psoas”.
The psoas stretches from the lower back through the front of the hips where it meets with the illiacus muscle. They both stretch into the top of the thighs on both sides of the body. The psoas muscles offer core stability, hip flexion and it’s connected to “Fight or Flight” response.
Have you ever had sweaty hands or felt that your heart was going to come out of your chest when watching a scary movie? What happens to your body when a squirrel suddenly crosses in front of you while we are driving?
Every time we see or experience something that startles us (real or perceived threat), our brain signals our body to respond to this threat by releasing adrenaline.
The Psoas Muscles and Emotions
The Psoas muscles are connected to the fight/flight response. We experience a stressor and when the stress response doesn’t finish the natural response cycle, these stress hormones go unspent and are stored in the body.
Ayurveda says that all emotions and thoughts not properly digested, get stored in the fascia and muscles of the body.
This may lead to many health problems including insomnia, lowered immune system, anxiety/depression, pain, and fear.
When Emotions and thoughts are not properly digested, they’re stored in the fascia and muscles of the body.
“Because the psoas is so intimately involved in such basic physical and emotional reactions, a chronically tightened psoas continually signals your body that you’re in danger, eventually exhausting the adrenal glands and depleting the immune system. As you learn to approach the world without this chronic tension, psoas awareness can open the door to a more sensitive attunement to your body’s inner signals about safety and danger, and to a greater sense of inner peace.” – Liz Koch, Author of “The Psoas Book.”
Yoga and The Psoas Muscles
Yoga cultivates awareness of the mind, body and emotions. A regular yoga practice can help heal, nurture and relax the mind and body.
Many yoga poses can help you release stress, anxiety, and fear stored within your psoas. Yoga calls the psoas “the muscle of the soul,” so including poses that will work on these muscles will certainly improve your overall health and well-being.
Try yoga poses like Warrior 1, Anjaneasana, Bridge, and Quad stretches to lengthen and stretch the psoas. In addition, Navasana is a great pose to strengthen it.
You can also check out my Virtual Yoga and Pilates Studio with over 90 classes and new classes added monthly.
You’ll find special classes like Yoga for digestion, inflammation, PMS and to stretch and release the psoas muscles. You can also enjoy dynamic and energizing flows, pilates classes and more.
For less than the cost of a single Yoga class at your local studio, you can enjoy a full month of unlimited classes in the comfort of your own home!
You can enjoy a full month of unlimited classes in the comfort of your own home!
I can’t wait to practice with you and help you release stress!
