The psoas muscle affects your mood: 'Don't let the happiness muscle make you unhappy'

Stating that the psoas muscle ensures the balance of all abdominal muscles and the alignment of the lower back, Yetener said, "In addition to emotions, the psoas contracts in soccer players and runners who perform repetitive hip flexion (bending), as well as in those who wear tight clothing and high heels. Stretching this muscle provides relaxation and reduces stress."

Acıbadem Bayraklı Medical Center Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist Dr. Müge Yetener provided information about the psoas muscle, which contracts by sensing moments of fear and stress, and when contracted, disrupts the alignment of the lumbar region and increases the lumbar curve. 

"ALL THE MUSCLES IN OUR BODY UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF OUR SOUL"

Noting that this muscle is positioned between the spine and the legs, Yetener stated that it is always active, whether sitting or running. Pointing out that all the muscles in our body understand the language of our soul—meaning they respond by contracting when we are sad or tense—Yetener spoke as follows:

"But when it comes to the psoas muscle, it is also known as the 'deepest core of the body.' It plays an important role in the torso having a proper posture. It is responsible for balancing all abdominal muscles and for the thigh's ability to move toward the torso. The psoas muscle contracts by sensing moments of fear and stress. Stretching this muscle provides relaxation and reduces chronic stress. The psoas also works in connection with the diaphragm. Therefore, when the muscle is tense, heart rate and breathing also accelerate. This is why it is called the soul muscle or the happiness muscle."

Yetener stated that the psoas muscle also contracts in soccer players and runners who perform repetitive hip flexion, and in those who wear tight clothing and high heels. Expressing that when the psoas muscle contracts, individuals feel pain radiating from the pelvis into the hip and groin, Specialist Dr. Yetener said, "Furthermore, the alignment of the lumbar region is disrupted and the lumbar curve increases.

Stretching this muscle is important both for proper posture and for calming sympathetic system tension. There are techniques to relax this muscle. Some yoga poses, such as the pigeon pose and the happy baby pose, are effective in stretching this muscle," she said.