What keeps the psoas in contraction?
The psoas will stay contracted because of postural habits and trauma. The way we stand, walk and sit can distort the psoas. We often sit with our head forward (computer work, studying, driving) which shortens and tightens the psoas. Over time we develop a habitual way of holding the psoas that is dysfunctional. Unresolved trauma can keep the psoas short and reactive. This is a primary muscle in flight, fight, freeze or fear responses to danger – or in today’s world, persistent stress and anxiety. Until the psoas is released the muscle may stay contracted and go into further shortening and spasm very easily. A constricted upper psoas instead of freeing the rib cage and elongating the spine collapses the chest and hyper-extends the lumbar spine. Using a back pillow for the small of the back or the neck to relieve back pain (a result of a hyper-extended spine) is only another band aid approach to a much deeper problem, a constricted psoas. Core Awareness begins with the sits bones. The ja
