How to unlock emotional release

Let go

Tension is a normal and natural thing that everyone experiences – however, it’s important that we can process it. If we don’t allow its release, we can get stuck, ending up with residual tension that our physical bodies hold onto long after the event that caused it.

Emotional information is stored through “packages” in our organs, tissues, skin, and muscles. These “packages” allow the emotional information to stay in our body parts until we can “release” it. Negative emotions in particular have a long-lasting effect on the body. Stretching the hip muscles causes a release; pent-up emotions may resurface, suppressed memories may arise, and unconscious tension still held onto from a traumatic event may bubble up. Some may have a fight-or-flight type of response, which may include muscle tension, heart pounding, and sweating because their body "believes it needs to activate, Others maybe experience a freeze response, which can look like someone who struggles to move or get out of bed.

When we’re angry, stressed, threatened, scared, or even surprised, we often – unconsciously – clench our jaw or fists. We mobilize our hips to take flight (run away) or fight, or we bend forward and raise our knees to protect our core. This clenching and crunching is even our natural response even when someone launches a tickle attack!

Watch any toddler; when they’re sad, mad, or frustrated, they curl up and cry. Adults do the same (though we may not do it as loudly or publicly) when we receive bad news. Activating the hip flexors to get foetal is an inherent reflex action.

No matter how real or serious (or not) the threat or perceived drama, drawing the knees in starts at the hips. And when the muscles clench, they shorten. If the tension is never fully released, not only is muscular tension trapped – so too is deep, cognitive emotion.

During the event that causes the hips to physically tense, our brain launches its custom cocktail of chemistry to inform the nervous system. The residue of this is emotions stored – you’ve guessed it – in the hips.

Our hip region is also associated with our sacral chakra which processes emotions like fear, sadness, frustration, loss, and worries. As we clench and tense up when we are faced with these emotions, we lock and store them into our hips. Certain exercises and 'hip-opening' stretch target specific muscles within this area, improving circulation, energy, and motion and even reducing back pain. Therefore, as stress causes the body to tighten, the hips become crucial to nurturing and relieving emotional tension.

Light walking, yoga, or swimming will get the muscles and joints moving and promote circulation and healing in the area. Exercise – Whether or not there is an emotional connection to the tension in the hips, physical relief is often needed to alleviate the pain and discomfort. Practicing hip-focused poses may indeed feel like we’re opening Pandora’s box. But if we approach them with acceptance, presence, and softness, the benefits of doing so far outweigh any short-lived discomfort we may experience. Working on the deep tissues in hip-focused postures such as Single and double pigeon asanas can release both physical and emotional tension. On a physical level, this can help free the spine and legs, increase mobility, and improve overall health.

Stretching the hip muscles causes a release; pent-up emotions may resurface, suppressed memories may arise, and unconscious tension still held onto from a traumatic event may bubble up. All of which may unleash a seemingly inexplicable barrage of tears.

Hip-opening yoga poses focus on such areas to release tension from the muscles and joints. These poses can be performed while sitting, standing, or in a reclining position.

Apart from working specifically on the hip areas, most of the hip opening poses also stretch your hamstrings, quads, lower back, groin, and knees. All of these areas are interconnected in some or another way and strengthening them will give you a confident stride.