The Psoas – The Muscle of the Soul
The Psoas is considered to be the muscle of the soul. It is the only muscle group that links the upper body to the lower body. The Psoas muscle (pronounced so-as) is the deepest muscle in the human body affecting our structural balance, muscular integrity, flexibility, and strength, range of motion, joint mobility, and organ functioning. Running from inside the upper thigh (femur) it attaches to the lower back vertebrae and ends just under the diaphragm on both sides of the body. The connecting Illeacus muscles run around the pelvic bones connecting into the sacrum area. The Psoas is a balancing muscle that we cannot physically feel with our hands as it lies deep within our body structure.
The Psoas governs our fight, flight response and contracts when we are under threat or stress. Continued stress or traumatic events cause more and more contraction. The nervous system is unable to reset itself to its parasympathetic state so the body is in a constant state of sympathetic arousal. Stressed thinking, shortness of breath. that feeling of being on edge and unable to cope. Or there may be the freeze response. Where the body and mind are in a frozen or numb state, known as dissociation so that one cannot feel what is happening.
If the body is out of balance, through favouring one side due to injury or emotional, physical or mental stress, the Psoas becomes weak and imbalanced. Metaphysically, the soul or essence of who we are is ‘altered or injured’.
Regular practice with our sTREss Away classes assists the release and relaxation of this muscle group allowing us to rebalance the parasympathetic nervous system. This relieves stress within the muscles of our body so you can get back to being your true self. More flexible, more relaxed, calmer and able to deal with life. As the Psoas relaxes, the body and mind relax and release and the magic of healing can begin. Unencumbered by the mind!
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