The Psoas Muscle in Taoist Yoga and Tai Chi
The psoas muscle (ilio-psoas) is a key yet often overlooked muscle in Taoist movement arts. Running from the lumbar spine to the femur, it plays a crucial role in posture, movement, and chi flow. In Taoist yoga (Tao-yin) and Tai Chi Chuan, the psoas acts as a bridge between the upper and lower body, supporting fluid, rooted movement.
Psoas Activation in Tai Chi
Tai Chi emphasizes relaxation with structure, where the psoas supports proper weight shifts and balance. It helps maintain:
• Hip joint mobility, ensuring smooth stance transitions.
• Expansive force by integrating whole-body movement.
• Pelvic bowl stability, preventing lower back strain.
• Silk-reeling spirals, coordinating spinal and hip rotations.
A properly engaged psoas allows practitioners to move without excess tension, promoting efficient internal power.
The Psoas in Tao-Yin
Taoist yoga uses breath, stretching, and spiraling movements to release and activate the psoas, allowing chi to flow freely. Key methods include:
• Supine leg lifts to awaken the deep core.
• Diaphragmatic breathing to release chronic tension.
• Rooted standing postures to train psoas activation.
• Twisting movements to improve flexibility and chi circulation.
Unlike conventional strength training, Taoist arts cultivate a responsive rather than tense psoas. Awareness of this muscle enhances balance, internal power, and effortless motion, unlocking deeper levels of Taoist movement practice.