In the past week, I went to my bookshelf to look for books that might be donated to our local Auxiliary-run Library Bookstore. Needless to say I found about a dozen, leaving space for the book I picked up as I drove out of our driveway (an Amazon purchase).

The new book is titled ‘Enlighten Up’ by Beth Gibbs, a Certified Yoga Therapist and Teacher. I’ve recently discovered her on another blog - Yoga For Healthy Aging (which I highly recommend). Her writing - the writing that caught my interest - was on the Chakras and the Koshas, which are considered our subtle body in the yoga practice.

Granted, many students haven’t heard of Chakras or Koshas, but my studies and reading lead me to believe they are a valuable tool in both yoga teaching, therapy and practice.

But, I digress. What I found in my journey through the bookcase - looking for books I had read or will never read - was a newer book by Donna Farhi - Pathways to a Centered Body.

In this book, Donna and co-author, Leila Stuart, emphasize moving from our center (as opposed to the periphery). My teaching recently tells me that ‘THIS IS MY KIND OF BOOK’.

In fact, I was working with a client the other day and I asked her to lift one leg out to the side, enough to activate the smaller glute muscles - medius and minimus. She did so, but with some wobbling in the standing leg. I asked her to take her attention to her outer hip muscles and move from there, as opposed to just thinking about raising her foot. BIG change - more stable, and - I hope - more effective.

Ms. Farhi and Ms. Stuart are beginning their book with attention to the psoas muscle - a lesser known muscle that lies close to the spine, running from both sides of T12 (12th thoracic vertebra), continuing to emerge from the lumbar vertebrae and cervical discs. From those origins, it moves through our pelvis and inserts to our thighs’ inner trochanters (a small bump on the inside of our femurs). Along this journey, the psoas meets up with our iliacus muscle, forming what is called the ‘iliopsoas complex’ - see pic below. It was long thought that these muscles flex’d our hips (which they do), helping us to walk, run and jump. However more study has revealed the following about our mysterious psoas muscle and the iliopsoas complex:

1. It connects the torso to the legs (spine to pelvis and legs),

2. It connects core to periphery,

3. It connects back body to front body,

4. It provides central body support,

5. It is a lumbar stabilizer,

6. It stabilizes the SI joint (sacroiliac joint),

7. It is a core initiator of movement,

8. It can influence diaphragmatic breathing and healthy organ function,

9. As well, it provides psychological stability and resiliency.

WHEW! and Who Knew?

I am now on page 35 of this marvelous book - just to the section on how it affects our nervous system. Excited to learn more, but I’ll let what I have read digest for 24 hours before proceeding.

Back to Beth Gibbs who posted a marvelous quote I’d like to share:

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” —Alice Walker

Got to remember that one.

Let me know in the comments section if you’ve ever heard of the psoas muscle; would love feedback.

Take care (and, continue wearing those masks),