Awakening Your Psoas!!

I have just returned from an awesome week of learning.  Last week I attended a training on healing physical and emotional trauma, which included a training that was specific for our military and how they are uniquely affected by trauma.  I love learning and experiencing new things that feed my desire & purpose to awaken the healing human potential, and to discover more about my own personal journey of life.  This training was very unique in that it addressed how trauma and stress can be healed through "somatic therapy" (body movement) in order to bring our bodies back to homeostasis - peace.  I am excited with all I learned and cannot wait to share.  So on to our focus...Awakening the Psoas!

The psoas is a large muscle, with a length of up to 16 inches, that attaches at the bottom of the thoracic spine at T12 and  and along the lumbar spine through L4, then runs through the pelvic bowl, down over the front of the hip joint, and attaches at the top of the femur. It is the only muscle connecting the spine to the leg. Looking at pictures of the psoas, I like to visualize as a beautiful long blue scarf that flows and drapes from behind my heart, over my pelvis, and then wrapping inside my thighbone!  Our psoas muscle is magical in the way it supports us standing, walking and running, and when healthy and relaxed, allows the diaphragm to function with ease and grace....meaning we are breathing to our full potential.  The psoas provides you with mobility and core stability, and it affects the ability of your legs and spine to move freely.  Your psoas muscle could be said to be the most important muscle of your body and the muscle for most people, that needs awakening and lengthening.  Take a look around you in life and at work, and notice people's posture.  Much of the  contraction in our psoas occurs due to our use of technology, hovering over our laptops, driving hunched over the steering wheel, walking with our head looking down....the list goes on and on.   
In addition our psoas muscle is a powerful reflex muscle and is affected by fear. Fear is a primordial emotion we feel and one which our body responds to automatically. For example, imagine crossing the street and a car almost hits you. How does your body respond?  Our sympathetic nervous system responds with flight or fight, causing our body to go inward for safety.  Typically once we know we are safe, our body relaxes.  However, when we are in constant stress, fear or trauma our psoas muscle stays in this state of contraction, and the whole body pays the price! 
In Nia we move the body organically that supports the conditioning and lengthening of our psoas muscle.  When we move through the planes of our body (high, middle and low) we are opening and closing the front of our groin, contracting and expanding our psoas muscle.  When we roll on the floor "embryonic like" we are spiraling our psoas muscle.  When me engage our chest with chest isolation's, we are mobilizing and vibrating our psoas (remember it attaches to our thoracic and lumbar spine).  When we use toes in, out and parallel, express with our arms and hands, we are conditioning our psoas muscle.  Nia awakens our psoas, and can potentially release stress in your body!!!  In fact, Nia heals and conditions every part of you body...join me in class!
My classes this week:

Thursday at 5:30 pm
Saturday at 9:30 am

and Sunday at 4:00 pm all at http://www.thesynergystudio.com.

Please note I am starting new classes at Total Harmony Yoga on August 12th.  Monday and Wednesday at 8:45.  Please join me!!!  Also contact me on free classes there...you first one for sure!!!

Considering taking the Nia White belt intensive?  Whether you want to teach Nia or take Nia for personal growth, it is an amazing experience!!!   Check out my trainings at: www.nianow.com/joanie and click on "My Trainings". Adelle and I have one October 4th and a split weekend December 5th here in San Antonio.  Join us!

Love & Light,
Joanie Brooks,
http://www.joaniebrooks.me/
Nia Training Faculty, Nia White Belt Trainer

Nia 5 Stages of Healing Facilitator, Journey Dance Guide, Mindful Change Coach and Yoga Laughter Leader


Nia - Somatic Education for EveryBody.  Nia is an expressive movement form & lifestyle practice that uses The Body's Way to achieve physical, mental, emotional & spiritual fitness & well-being."   

75 trillion cells in your body…Play with them all with Nia!