It’s often said in yoga that “our issues are in our tissues.” Stress, trauma, and unprocessed emotions can become physically stored in the body, particularly in the deep muscles of the hips and back. This three-pose sequence can help to gently unlock this stored emotional tension, facilitating release and healing.
Balasana (Child’s Pose) offers a safe starting point. It provides a gentle opening for the hips and a mild stretch for the entire back. In this secure, womb-like position, you can breathe into these sensitive areas, creating a feeling of safety that may allow deeply held tension to begin to soften and release.
Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall), while passive, has a profound effect on the hip flexors, particularly the psoas muscle, which is known as the “fight or flight” muscle. Lying in this pose allows the psoas to release its chronic clenching, which can correspond to a release of long-held fear or anxiety.
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend) works deeply into the entire length of the spine, which can be thought of as the central channel of our emotional life. As you surrender into this deep forward fold, you create space in the back body, allowing for the release of stored grief, burdens, or responsibilities, leaving you feeling lighter and more emotionally free.