How to Release Stored Emotions from Your Hips with One Stretch

For better physical and mental health!

Yesterday my beautiful friend @notcoolnayj posted about the benefits of hip opener poses, and I realized I’ve been stretching my hips subconsciously the past few days as I’ve been going through a lot of emotional release! (Hello #VenusRetrograde – please dont stay long haha).

Yogic theory positsd that we can store memories, emotions & energy in the fascia (connective tissue) of our hips and pelvis. Starting your day off with an opening stretch like this can help release physical blockages created by emotional stagnation. (Traditional Chinese Medicine states that anger harms the liver, worry harms the stomach, fear/trauma harms the kidneys… it’s all connected!).

Here’s what my friend Nasya had to say:

If you’ve ever taken a yoga class with pigeon pose, I’m sure we can all bond over the fact that some serious sensations come up, and QUICK when practicing Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon Pose).

It’s inevitable to feel something: satisfaction, discomfort, anxiety or my favorite – a good old cry. Let’s not pretend. We’ve all been there. We’ve all busted out a tear or two with a good hip opener. And guess what?! GOOD! DEEP RELEASE! FINALLY!

Think of our hips & pelvis as our “junk drawer of emotions.” The brain is connected to the hips via the nervous system. We store buried emotions, past experiences, fear and trauma in our cells, floating deep within our physical bodies. These traumas stay with us as stale energy sabotaging our bodies & spirit. Our hips are like a bowl catching & holding the residue of this pain.

Pigeon’s main purpose is to unlock our deepest fears, traumas & anxieties lingering in our bodies and release that undesirable stagnation. Practicing this pose awakens the sacral chakra in our lower belly, helping us connect to our emotions, relationships and creativity.