Happy Tuesday, !
Now, this might sound a little woo-woo…
But did you know your body stores emotions in your hips?
Maybe you’ve seen someone break down and tear up in yoga class…
Or maybe you’ve experienced an unexpected emotional release during a hip-opening stretch yourself.
The reason is that your hips are directly connected to your fight-or-flight response by way of your psoas muscle (pronounced “so-as” if you’re curious).
This muscle connects your spine to your legs, and it’s activated when you’re in a stressful situation.
The problem is that too many of us spend our days sitting at a desk or on a couch, and most of the stress we encounter (like a work email!) doesn’t require us to run or fight.
So, since our hips don’t release that stress by running or fighting…
The stress has nowhere to go, and your hips stay tight.
That’s where hip-opening exercises come in.
Just a few minutes per day — or even per week — can help you release some of that tension.
You might try exercises like:
- Pigeon pose: Sit on the floor with one leg bent in front, the other extended back, and gently fold forward, making sure to breathe. Hold this position for as long as feels comfortable (or at least 30 seconds), and switch sides.
- Butterfly stretch: Sit on the floor, press the soles of your feet together, and gently push your knees toward the floor. Breathe deeply and release.
- Hip circles: Stand with feet apart, knees slightly bent, and rotate your hips in large circles clockwise, switching directions after each set.
So, even though we normally talk about habits like “eating more protein with every meal, lifting weights 2-x per week, and prioritizing your sleep” so you can build more muscle”..
You may want to add a few of these stretches to your list.
Once you try these, you might notice you feel more energized, more spacious, and maybe even more grounded and relaxed.
Have questions or concerns about improving your mobility / managing joint pain / how to incorporate more movement with your fitness training?
Just hit reply and ask!
Committed to your health and happiness,
Coach Lu
Ludwight Rigueur, SMTh, SMTr, LMT, Qigong Instructor
Rigueur Soma Performance
w: https://rsomaperformance.com
Booking Page: shor.by/RSPbookPage
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