Teaching the Psoas: Understanding the Stress Connection

Going Deeper: Teaching the Psoas - Understanding the Stress Connection Most yoga teachers learned the psoas as a hip flexor. And it is. But that description only scratches the surface of what this muscle actually does...and why understanding it more deeply changes how we teach and how we sequence. The psoas is one of the body's primary stress responders. It participates in the nervous system's threat response in a way most hip flexors don't. And once you understand that, a lot of what you see on the mat, the hips that never quite release, the lunge that grips rather than opens, starts to make more sense. You'll learn: Where the psoas actually lives and why its location matters for teaching How it participates in the stress response and why that's relevant on the mat The feedback loop between the psoas, the diaphragm, and the nervous system Why passive stretching often isn't enough — and what creates lasting change What this understanding means for how we sequence, cue, and hold space This content is offered as one lens, not the only lens. My hope is that it gives you something useful to bring into your teaching in a way that's true to you. If this was useful, subscribing helps more teachers find this content. I'm Amy Hardwick… yoga educator, Reiki teacher, and mentor with 25 years in the wellness world. This channel is for yoga teachers and curious students who want to go deeper: into alignment, anatomy, yin yoga, breathwork, and Reiki. Everything here is offered as one lens, not the only lens. There is no one right way to teach yoga, or to practice it. My hope is that this gives you something useful to explore in your own body and bring to your students in a way that's true to you. Ways to learn together: The Aligned Path Mentorship: https://www.amyhardwick.com/mentorship Kula Online Yoga Community: https://www.amyhardwick.com/kula2 Reiki Trainings: https://www.amyhardwick.com/reikitrai... Want to stay in touch? Subscribe to my newsletter here (I promise not to overwhelm your inbox!) https://amyhardwick.kit.com/6e6f2f9399 www.amyhardwick.com ‪@amyhardwickyoga‬ ________________________ This content is for educational purposes. Please consult a healthcare professional for any injuries or medical concerns. #yogaeducation #yogateachertraining #yogateacher