Liz Koch continues her lifelong study of the voluntary Iliopsoas muscle. Understanding the muscle to be part of our survival response provides both therapists and clients a fresh perspective and more thoughtful approach to personal healing. For the masseuse, a lack of awareness of the iliopsoas may result in being ill-prepared for the biological response that may appear in their client and/or themselves.
Located deep within the physical core, it is an integral component for realignment. However, as it is not easily accessible, the standard practice for most massage and bodywork training programmes is one of either passing over the importance of the iliopsoas or teaching a variety of manipulations with the intention of addressing the unresponsive or constricted muscle.
Moving through the pelvis and inserting into the medial side of the femur the iliopsoas is the only muscle to attach the spine to the legs. Forming a bridge between upper and lower body, the resonating iliopsoas vibrates the nuances of discord or harmony; fear or safety.
When we are afraid our spine curls, and it is this muscle that rolls the body into a foetal ball protecting the portals of perception (located in the face) and vital organs from harm. Pulling the two ends of the spinal tube together forms a resilient spine protecting the organism from blows and falls. Ignition of the iliopsoas prepares the leg to kick high and jump quickly. Fleeing, the dynamic iliopsoas propels forward into a run. Fighting, it steels in time of combat. Playing dead, a frozen iliopsoas expresses a heightened survival response of protection or trauma.
Emilie Conrad, founder of Continuum Movement and somatic educator specializing in spinal cord trauma, discovered that a variety of sounds excite the wave-like motion of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), tissue and nerves, and that iliopsoas responds positively to fluid movement. The iliopsoas is our walking muscle. Its rhythmic motion combined with diaphragmatic breathing massages the spinal column; elongating as we inhale and resuming balance as we exhale. Paul Chek, a prominent expert in the field of holistic health and corrective and high-performance exercise, explains what inhibits the iliopsoas during walking is a lack of safety most often due to a disruption of relationship between pelvis and cranium. Tears and stretched ligaments in the pelvis disrupt cranial sacral communication. Braces, mercury fillings even the use of cell phones disrupt CSF wave motion.
There are many non-invasive ways to work with the iliopsoas that support resolution. Rocking, gentle jiggling, falling and catching motions all elicit safety and recovery. Sensitive non-invasive massage strokes have been developed to encourage the flow of CSF during normal massage.
