The Psoas: The Hidden Link between Stress, Breath & Posture
- jacquihoitingh
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
When most people hear the word psoas, they think of a muscle that helps lift the leg or bend the hip.
But what if this deep muscle influences far more than movement?
What if it affects your breathing, posture, digestion, jaw tension, and even how safe your nervous system feels?
The psoas is often called the “muscle of the soul” in holistic health circles. While that may sound poetic, there is a reason this deep core muscle fascinates therapists, movement practitioners, and bodyworkers alike.
Where Is the Psoas?
The psoas lies deep within the body, attaching from the lumbar spine (lower back) and travelling through the pelvis to the top of the thigh bone.
Unlike many muscles, it sits close to vital organs, the diaphragm, and the nervous system.
Because of its location, it acts as a bridge between the upper and lower body.
When it changes, many other structures must adapt.
The Hidden Relationship Between the Psoas and Breathing
One of the psoas’s closest neighbours is the diaphragm — our primary breathing muscle.
The diaphragm and psoas share fascial connections and work together more than many people realise.
When the psoas becomes chronically tight, breathing often becomes shallower.
The ribcage may stop expanding fully.
The body begins to rely more heavily on the neck and shoulders for breathing assistance.
This is one reason people with persistent lower back tension often also report neck tension, headaches, or feelings of stress and overwhelm.
The body is connected in ways we don’t always see.
Why Stress Often Shows Up in the Psoas
The psoas is closely linked to our survival responses.
When we experience stress, fear, uncertainty, or prolonged pressure, the nervous system prepares the body for action.
Muscles throughout the body become more alert and protective.
The psoas is often one of them.
Many people notice they hold tension in their hips, lower back, abdomen, or pelvis during stressful periods of life.
The body isn’t broken.
It’s adapting.
The challenge comes when the body never receives the message that it is safe to let go again.
What Does the Jaw Have To Do With It?
At first glance, the jaw and the psoas seem completely unrelated.
Yet therapists frequently notice a relationship between the two.
Both are influenced by the nervous system.
Both can become protective during times of stress.
Both can affect posture.
When the jaw tightens, the head often moves forward.
When the head moves forward, the spine adapts.
When the spine adapts, the pelvis and hips adapt too.
The body works as a whole.
This is why treating only the area of pain sometimes brings temporary relief, but the problem keeps returning.
Common Signs the Psoas May Need Attention
You don’t need to have hip pain to have a psoas that is working too hard.
Some possible signs include:
Tight hips
Lower back discomfort
Shallow breathing
Digestive tension
Difficulty standing upright after sitting
Pelvic imbalance
Persistent jaw tension
Feeling “wired but tired”
A sense of always being on alert
Of course, these symptoms can have many causes, but they remind us that the body rarely operates in isolated parts.
Listening Beyond Symptoms
One of the most fascinating shifts occurs when we stop asking:
“Where does it hurt?”
and begin asking:
“What pattern is the body trying to show me?”
The psoas reminds us that symptoms are often part of a bigger conversation.
A tight hip may not just be a tight hip.
A sore back may not just be a sore back.
A tense jaw may not simply be a jaw problem.
The body is constantly adapting, compensating, and communicating.
When we learn to listen to those relationships, we often discover that healing becomes less about fighting symptoms and more about understanding the patterns beneath them.
Because sometimes the problem isn’t where it hurts.
And sometimes the body has been trying to tell us that all along.
Curious about the hidden relationship between posture, TMJ and the Nervous System?
Download my FREE Guide
Download The Listening Body Guide.
Or if you'd like a session in Naarden (jacqui.hoitingh@gmail.com)
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