Why Emotions Get Stored in the Hips

One of the main reasons emotions are stored in the hips is due to the role of the psoas muscle, a deep-seated muscle that connects the lower spine to the femur. Often called the "muscle of the soul," the psoas is closely linked to our fight-or-flight response. When we experience stress, trauma, or intense emotions, the psoas tightens to protect us. Chronic stress can cause the psoas to remain contracted, storing emotional tension in the hips. For an excellent article from Yoga Journal about the psoas click here.

From an energetic standpoint, the hips are connected to the sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, located just below the navel. This chakra governs our emotions, creativity, and sexuality. When this energy center is blocked, it can lead to physical tightness in the hips, as well as emotional imbalances such as anxiety, depression, or creative stagnation .

Yoga provides a holistic approach to releasing tension in the hips by working on both the physical and energetic levels. Here’s how specific yoga practices can help:

1. Hip-Opening Poses
   Hip-opening postures such as Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana), Lizard Pose (Utthan Pristhasana), and Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) gently stretch and release tension in the hip muscles. These poses target the deep muscles of the hips, including the psoas, and encourage the release of built-up emotional energy .

2. Breathwork and Mindfulness
   Conscious breathing (pranayama) and mindfulness are key components of yoga practice that help to bring awareness to areas of tension in the body. Deep, mindful breathing during hip-opening poses can help release stored emotions by calming the nervous system and allowing the body to relax into the stretch. This encourages emotional release and healing .

3. Engaging the Parasympathetic Nervous System
   Yin yoga and restorative yoga practices are particularly effective for releasing hip tension because they focus on long-held, passive poses that engage the parasympathetic nervous system, our body’s "rest and digest" mode. When the body is in this state, it’s more receptive to releasing emotional blockages .

4. Cultivating Self-Compassion
   As emotions arise during hip-opening yoga practices, it’s important to approach them with compassion and non-judgment. Yoga teaches us to stay present and observe our emotions without attachment. This mindful approach allows us to process and release emotions in a healthy way rather than suppressing them further.

The next time you find yourself holding tension in your hips, remember: It's not just about the physical stretch. It’s about releasing what no longer serves you—emotionally, mentally, and energetically. The journey may not always be easy, but it’s one worth taking. If your interested in reading more an awesome book The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk is an awesome resource.