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Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones
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The Vital Psoas Muscle: Connecting Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being Paperback – August 21, 2012

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 983 ratings
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Located deep within the anterior hip joint and lower spine, the psoas major (usually just referred to as the psoas) is critical for optimal postural alignment, movement, and overall well being. The psoas is the only muscle in the human organism that connects the upper body to the lower body, and its importance extends to the nerve complex and energy systems.

As modern-day populations grow more sedentary, psoas-related lower back and hip pain, and the ailment of "sitting too much," are on the rise. Even the most active of athletes can suffer from psoas imbalance and pain. The Vital Psoas Muscle demonstrates how to keep the muscle in balance through specific exercises designed to strengthen and utilize this amazing muscle, and discusses its vital role in the emotional and spiritual state of the human being. The interconnection between the psoas and the root chakra is explored, along with yoga poses and postures that stimulate the psoas. Eighty full-color illustrations depict anatomical details, and show the key stretching and strengthening exercises in this practical and comprehensive treatment of the most important skeletal muscle in the human body.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    128 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    North Atlantic Books
  4. Publication date
    August 21, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    6.9 x 0.3 x 9.67 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1583944583
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1583944585
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Demystifying the psoas for practitioners, movers, and wellness seekers

Movement

Emotional

Spiritual

The Psoas and Movement

The psoas works with many other major muscles to produce and stabilize movement. Learn when to release and when to strengthen the psoas and why this difference matters. Includes yoga and pilates specific exercises and stretches.

The Psoas and Emotions

Imagine being kind to a muscle; do we ever do this? Society dictates that we work a muscle to exhaustion, whether in work or play. Let’s take a different approach with the psoas. Freeing it from so many chores may help to relieve emotional tension, and even trauma held deep in the core of the body.

The Psoas and Spirituality

The link between science and spirituality is definitely overdue and ripe for investigation. What does this have to do with the “almighty psoas?” This concept is explored in depth through the seven chakras.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book has enlightened and assisted me in my own personal and professional evolutionary process, and I feel that any reader, after taking this journey with the author, will be able to add a layer of knowledge and enlightenment on their own path to a better understanding of optimal health and function."
—Gary Mascilak, D.C., P.T., C.S.C.S

“The Vital Psoas Muscle considers this specific muscle, located in the front hip joint and lower spine and critical for postural alignment, movement and overall well-being. It tells how to solve lower back pain and reduce trauma through understanding the physical, emotional and spiritual ramifications of this muscle, offering in-depth illustrations and key stretching and strengthening routines that incorporate the use of yoga or pilates.”
—Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones is a professor of kinesiology and dance. She is a certified Pilates and yoga instructor with a master's degree in dance and education, and received degrees at the University of Kansas and New York University before pursuing a career as a performer, choreographer, teacher, and movement scientist. She currently teaches interactive movement workshops across the U.S. and sponsors international holistic retreats.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ North Atlantic Books; 1st edition (August 21, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1583944583
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1583944585
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.9 x 0.3 x 9.67 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 983 ratings

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Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones

Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
983 global ratings
Vital Psoas book is as described
3 Stars
Vital Psoas book is as described
I bought the Vital Psoas because I was hoping to find more information on the diagnosis mistakenly given to me by a "physical therapist" who I later learned has no experience in this area. After feeling like I had exhausted all my avenues, I purchased this book. It's okay and is as described with nicely done illustrations and easy to understand language that doesn't make you feel like you missed out by not attending medical school. It's only that it did not provide additional information that could not be found with an extensive online search that I'm not giving it more stars.
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Top reviews from the United States

Zane
5.0 out of 5 stars Interested in the Psoas? Buy this.
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
Awesome, awesome book. I have been really into studying and fixing up my psoas recently.

- Good intro to the muscle, and other related muscles
- Diagrams are absolutely top-notch 6/5, diagrams are mainly for stretches to hit the psoas. These stretches are the same ones used in yoga and pilattes. Diagrams are see-through and detail the muscles being worked very well, helps one understand the purpose of the stretches.
- Talks about the spiritual, emotional, and well-being aspects of the psoas muscle in a scientifically respectful, yet assertive manner. The psoas is certainly involved with these things! And tension/tightness in the psoas can certainly have negative mental effects, not to mention effects on posture (kind of the same thing.)

I now use this book as my quick-reference for stretches and the anatomy of the body with relation to the psoas. Would be a great living room table book.
27 people found this helpful
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Sigma13
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book. It gave me a lot of useful information. It was definitely worth the purchase
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Nancy W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a great book and has opened my eyes to what causes so much of the sciatica pain in my hip, leg and foot.
I have titanium rods, screws, pins and plastic cages in my lower spine and this book has helped tremendously. I can't do all of the proposed exercises in the book, but the ones I can do have significantly stopped that horrible, grinding and shooting pain from sciatica. Try it, stick with it and you will see results in a week or less. The colored illustrations of the human body and exercises and instructions are wonderful. My chiropractor loves this book, too!
78 people found this helpful
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Ann O'Flanagan
4.0 out of 5 stars Psoas - really
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2012
Verified Purchase
I know you are thinking - what is Psoas. Well I thought that too until I found out that all my back problems, aches and pains were caused by a tight psoas muscle. I learned from Jo Ann Jones that the Psoas muscle, which is largely unheard of among the general public and most professionals, has a dramatic effect on all bodily functions because it connects the upper body to the lower body. When I first got the book I just skimmed it. Later I tried the exercises. Guess what, my psoas muscle really did release. The exercises worked like a charm. I am a sloucher with terrible posture. I have sat at a desk most of my life. This book is wonderful. It is easy to read and it provides knowledge that you can't find anywhere else.
276 people found this helpful
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Allison Ruby
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book For Understanding An Unfamiliar Muscle
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
I found this book to have great information on the Psoas muscle. I've been practicing yoga for close to a year now and had problems with forward bends, having to bend my knees. I didn't have pain in my hamstrings so I began to explore if there was a deeper issue of an unworked/lazy Psoas. By adopting these exercises/poses as well as attending a specialized yoga core class that works to access the psoas, I find I can straighten my knees after 2 months of work! I have also found my overall core strength has improved as well as my posture. At a minimum, this is a good book to help understand exactly what the function ot the Psoas is in relation to the other muscles in the core region.
5 people found this helpful
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B Schwarzentraub
5.0 out of 5 stars Exercises I can use in a language I can understand
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is an excellent book! Free of medical insider language, it explains what the psoas muscle does, how it affects so much of the body, and what we can do to improve and strengthen it. Best of all, the book shows lots of exercises for the beginner to advanced, to improve different specific conditions. And it really helps! I borrowed it from my acupuncture / massage professional, and then bought it the next day, so I could flag what to put into my daily routine. I've recommended it to older friends, who've found it helpful for flexibility, strength, and balance. The illustrations are both beautiful and instructive.
betsy@generousstewards.com
37 people found this helpful
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Kristina B
3.0 out of 5 stars Vital Psoas book is as described
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2016
Verified Purchase
I bought the Vital Psoas because I was hoping to find more information on the diagnosis mistakenly given to me by a "physical therapist" who I later learned has no experience in this area. After feeling like I had exhausted all my avenues, I purchased this book. It's okay and is as described with nicely done illustrations and easy to understand language that doesn't make you feel like you missed out by not attending medical school. It's only that it did not provide additional information that could not be found with an extensive online search that I'm not giving it more stars.
Customer image
Kristina B
3.0 out of 5 stars Vital Psoas book is as described
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2016
I bought the Vital Psoas because I was hoping to find more information on the diagnosis mistakenly given to me by a "physical therapist" who I later learned has no experience in this area. After feeling like I had exhausted all my avenues, I purchased this book. It's okay and is as described with nicely done illustrations and easy to understand language that doesn't make you feel like you missed out by not attending medical school. It's only that it did not provide additional information that could not be found with an extensive online search that I'm not giving it more stars.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
22 people found this helpful
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Hemalkumar
5.0 out of 5 stars Vital Psoas muscle
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Love love love this book. As a PT I love holistic approach mainly while treating pelvic health or chronic pain patients. Love how the author connected psoas with centre of gravity, triplanner movement, emotional connection and spiritual connection. Emotional aspect definitely helps with central sensitization and fright fight reactions and we find mostly in chronic patients, post op patients and pelvic health issues.
12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ma anche no!
5.0 out of 5 stars Few words, a lot of informations
Reviewed in Italy on September 30, 2019
Verified Purchase
It is not a long wordy book and it gives all the complete informations you need on this group of muscles! You understand immediately how much and why it's so important for our body. The books provides a selected and precious number of gym exercises and yoga'asanas, to begin with a correct activation. Very Important: for each exercise there is a special "limitations" paragraph very useful andessential not to make mistakes during the exercises. Excellent!
2 people found this helpful
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars LLEGO PRONTO Y EN BUEN ESTADO
Reviewed in Spain on August 18, 2019
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aceptable
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on June 28, 2017
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Good one
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ophfoyf
5.0 out of 5 stars good
Reviewed in Australia on April 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
good
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Moe Mur
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an amazing book; it's detail of factual body information
Reviewed in Canada on May 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is an amazing book; it's detail of factual body information, the fabulous sketches to match movements and postures allows one to see not only the lines of the outside body, but the whole of the inside body as movements are executed, the width of topics i.e. the chapters presented cover the whole of the body (the 7 Chakras), and all this is presented in a relatively short book. Amazing how so much in such detail fills this compact book. What a find. I would recommend to all Yoga instructors and enthusiasts, Physio-therapists (to show clients detail where and when appropriate), and to Massage Therapists generally. Doctors could benefit from this book; it's a special find, for sure. I thank the author wholeheartedly. Maureen Cullen
4 people found this helpful
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