34 Comments
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Corie Feiner's avatar

"I like to say my psoas and I are old friends, the kind that’s always trying to protect me, sometimes a little too much. " Me, too! This is an amazing post!

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

Thank you! Its such an interesting muscle... there's so much to learn!

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Cheryl Duwe's avatar

I’m a massage therapist and I do a LOT of psoas work. It’s so powerful!!

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

Very cool! A client asked me yesterday if there was a way they could self-release their psoas outside of the yoga moves we do, and I suggested the Hip Hook by Aletha - I don’t have one, but it has great reviews. As a massage therapist, do you have other suggestions?

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Cheryl Duwe's avatar

Yes. For me the hip hook is too aggressive. I suggest that my clients lie down and let a leg dangle off the edge of the bed or couch for several minutes. That’s a good way to get some relief.

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Rosie Langridge's avatar

How about the Alexander Technique 'instruction' to allow the body to float outwards, sideways. Across the chest, shoulders, middle and hips? It seems to help me with all those aches you describe, and improves my posture and strongly improves my wellbeing and appreciation.

Many thanks for an amazing clear and insightful post.

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

So interesting, Rosie! I'm not very familiar with the Alexander Technique, but I love that cue - especially in mountain pose - feels so spacious!

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Kelly Liken Booker's avatar

This is so validating. As a neurodivergent, trauma-informed yoga student and practitioner, I’ve felt this connection in my own body for years—but didn’t always have the language for it. The way the psoas holds protection, tension, grief… it makes so much sense. Thank you for writing this with such clarity and care.

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Ramiro Blanco's avatar

Maintaining our body and mind in shape should be embedded into our work lives. I don't mean we should all do yoga after work, we should be paid by our employers to do yoga. That is, a yoga practice should be part of our work day. I'm writing a Labor Day post where I develop this idea. It'll be out the 30th of April.

Thanks for the post Kim!

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Geoffrey Blake's avatar

When my wife and I started dating I was on a path of extreme honesty and openness. It was horrifying! So horrifying that I’d get anxiety and sometimes throw up before dates.

Breathwork helped. Then I wondered if some opening poses could help. Sure enough, spending time in Camel Pose, feeling as vulnerable as could be, was a part of what “fixed” it.

I love this deep dive on a deep muscle!

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Aria Vega's avatar

This information was a major gamechanger. I’ve had psoas pain for weeks but had no idea these muscles existed! I’ve begun releasing some extreme tension through stretching and the pain is already subsiding. Thank you so so much 🙏🏾

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Ally's avatar

I never knew how the psoas was connected with the nervous system! As a trauma survivor my hip injury + military experience makes even more sense. Thank you for explaining how we can alleviate the tension as well!

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

I love your profile name, Allysia! I strive to be obnoxiously resilient... I hope that doing some psoas relief work can bring you some ease :) Holler if you need any support!

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Ally's avatar

Thank you so much Kim!

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Diane Weber's avatar

Well my hip has been hurting for weeks. My daughter is a massage therapist. Got it to relax. Now I just got to do some deep breathing to calm the heck down. Easier said than done nowadays.

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

happy to help if I can - I have a bunch of free meditations on my youtube :)

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BBruno's avatar

Thank you. 🙏🏻

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Sarah Siders's avatar

I was complaining about my psoas this morning on a walk with my husband and got home to find this article. What a gift! The stress-psoas connection is so powerful. I will work some of these into my therapy practice as well.

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Palka Puri's avatar

This is so fascinating! I’ve often read statements like “hips are the seat of trauma”, but have never had it explained so clearly. Thanks for the post!

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

right?! i had to do a deep dive the last time I heard that trope, thinking it was woo woo nonsense not based in any science... but hey! I love being proved wrong by anatomy nerds who know more than I do!!

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Oof. This explains a lot. Thank you.

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Jess | Wellness with Depth's avatar

thank you for sharing - how helpful! Hello from Colorado! 🪻 https://substack.com/@vibrationalbloom

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

so glad you liked it!

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Doctor Steven Murphy's avatar

Yes!!! Thank you for this!

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John Mitchell's avatar

Thanks. I haven’t tried this yet but it feels right.

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

let me know how it goes!

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TheLastBattleStation's avatar

“As the only muscle that connects the spine to the legs…” Doesn’t the piriformis muscle connect the lower spine to the upper thigh bone?

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Kim Wenger Hall's avatar

correct you are!! details matter! There are a few muscles that bridge the spine and legs via the pelvis...

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