All About The Big Lumbar Muscle, Or “the Muscle Of The Soul “

The large lumbar muscle ( psoas mayor ) is a muscle located along the length of the  lumbar region of the spine and pelvis.

It can also be interesting to know that this is the largest and strongest muscle of all the muscles, also known as the hip flexors.

These are the muscles that allow us to perform actions as simple as, for example, walking, cycling, lying down, standing upright, dancing, stretching, squats and most classic yoga exercises.

Interestingly enough, as we mentioned in the title, you will also be interested to know that the large lumbar muscle is known as the “muscle of the souls”.

The reason for this both evocative and poetic concept is based on two key factors:

• The first is that this muscle is one of the deepest muscles in our body. It promotes movement, but above all it  enables us to be stable.

• The second aspect, and equally interesting, is that muscle  has a lot to do with our emotional world,  with the function of releasing tension, channeling stress, anxiety…

If you have never heard of this “muscle of the soul”, we are sure you will find this information interesting.

The big lumbar muscle and our emotional world

This structure contributes to balance and our ability to make wide movements.

We do not perceive it, and if we had never heard of it, we would not even find it. But in reality  , we notice its presence every time we sit for a long time  and our back hurts.

We notice it when we suffer from low back pain, when the pelvis hurts and when we feel severe pain in the intervertebral discs.

Between the membrane and the pelvic floor: protection, stability and well-being

The large lumbar muscle sits right there in the most intimate area of ​​our body, connected to the diaphragm and pelvic floor, and is divided into two parts:

• A deep part, going from the first to the fifth lumbar vertebra.
• A more superficial part of the vertebrae in the chest.

It is also worth mentioning that the muscle not only helps us to stabilize the spine, but it is also important to  provide a good “attachment” for the abdominal organs.

• In addition to being a muscle, the psoas major also acts as a messenger for the central nervous system.

• This structure  is the messenger of many emotions that we can feel intensely in the stomach  (sometimes known as the “other brain”) given that it is connected to the membrane, through the connective tissue or fascia.
• So, the muscle of the soul is often involved with aspects that are as basic as breathing or reflexes for fear, stress and anxiety.
• Thus
• It prepares us for the escape response, to escape from things that the brain interprets as harmful or dangerous.
• If we maintain a state of high anxiety or stress for several weeks or months, this muscle will harden.

When the psoas major or the muscle of the soul becomes  harder, back pain, sciatica and digestive problems will occur,  and we may even suffer from painful menstruation…

The need to take care of and pay attention to the muscle of the souls

Negative emotions maintained over a long period of time are not the only thing that affects the resistance and elasticity of this muscle.

• A sedentary lifestyle and poor posture also affect the large lumbar muscles and cause back pain and other medical conditions.

What can we do to take care of the muscle of the soul?

We will explain below.

Appropriate exercises

Many yoga exercises try to balance, take care of and strengthen the muscle of the soul or the large lumbar muscle.

• Any stretching that involves the groin area and waist will allow the tension to flow out of this amazing muscle.
• A “released” lumbar muscle will help us strengthen our muscles, feel our legs lighter and make our pelvis more flexible, supple…
• So the ideal thing is to exercise at least an hour a day with appropriate stretching exercises.

Take your knee to your chest, or lie face down while rotating your hips and moving your knee from one side and then to the other.

As we said,  some yoga exercises will be positive and beneficial for you,  and you will also improve the function of the stomach organs, take care of your breathing, digestion and  heart.

Finally, it is never bad to worry daily about these muscles which, without us realizing it, do so much for our well-being.

For many oriental philosophies, the lumbar muscle, or muscle of the soul, is the  organ that channels energy and connects us to the earth.  It is the structure that gives us balance and vitality.

So why not worry a little more about it? The effort is worth it.