Week 5: Iliopsoas Release

 

Iliopsoas Release

The Iliopsoas Release is a great practice to counter the effects of tight muscles due to long sedentary periods and relieve back ache.

 

Standing Awareness

We start each practice with Standing Awareness; this practice will allow you to feel your posture. You can listen to the audio or just close your eyes and notice what you feel from your feet upwards. It will sound like:

“Stand normally, relax as much as possible, and don't try to have perfect posture. Let your arms hang by your sides, and close your eyes. Do a very slow internal scan of your body, focusing completely on your internal sensations. Start with your feet, and spend at least 5-10 seconds noticing how each part of your body feels as your scan moves upward, ending with your neck and head. Take as long as you want to do this body scan and do not rush it. Take the time to articulate to yourself what you are feeling; for example, “My weight is more on my right foot than my left” or “I feel like my left shoulder is higher than my right.”

 

Good for

  • Tightness and pain in the lower back

  • Tightness and pain in the hips

  • Groin pain

  • Hyperlordosis

  • Disc problems in the lumbar spine

  • Sciatica

  • Scoliosis

  • Functional leg length discrepancy

Iliopsoas.jpg

Anatomy

Iliopsoas;

  • Psoas major

  • Psoas minor

  • Iliacus

 

Video: Iliopsoas Release

Audio:

 

Lesson Guide:

 

Maud Gerritsen