If you know someone needs psoas work, your first instinct might be to go directly into the muscle with deep pressure.

But before you dig into the psoas, there may be another way.

In Lomi Lomi, we approach the body differently. Rather than forcing a muscle to release, we work with the body, allowing breath, positioning, pressure, and awareness to create the conditions in which it can begin to soften.

The Psoas: Deep at the Center of the Body

The psoas is a deep muscle connecting the lumbar spine to the femur. It plays an important role in movement and stability through the hips, pelvis, and lower back.

It is also sometimes called the “muscle of the soul” because of the way many somatic traditions associate this deeply held area with our experience of tension, protection, and safety.

Whether we look at it anatomically or energetically, the psoas is an area that deserves thoughtful attention.

And because it lies so deep within the body, working with it doesn’t necessarily mean pushing harder.

Why the Psoas Matters

The psoas connects the lumbar spine to the upper thigh and plays an important role in hip movement, posture and spinal stability.

Tension in this area may be associated with:

• Lower-back discomfort
• Hip restriction
• Changes in posture
• Reduced ease of movement
• Protective holding through the abdomen and pelvis

The psoas is also sometimes called the “muscle of the soul” because of its deep location and its perceived relationship with stress, protection and our sense of safety. In Lomi Lomi and other bodywork practices we recognise that this sensitive area requires care, patience and trust.

Working With the Body Instead of Against It

One of the principles at the heart of Hawaiian healing is energetic attunement — listening to what is happening beneath your hands and working with the person rather than imposing something upon them.

This becomes especially important when working around the psoas.

When pressure feels too intense or invasive, the body may respond by guarding and tightening. Instead, a Lomi Lomi approach can use breath and gradual pressure to invite the tissues to soften.

The client inhales.

As they exhale, the practitioner gradually sinks into the tissues with flat fingers and introduces a gentle directional pressure. The process is then repeated at several points, moving upward toward the rib cage.

Inhale. Exhale. Sink. Lean.

There is no rush to get deeper.

The breath becomes part of the work, and the practitioner continually listens to how the body responds.

Release Doesn’t Have to Be Forced

This reflects a much larger principle within Lomi Lomi.

We don’t always need to overpower tension in order to create change.

Sometimes the most profound bodywork happens when we stop asking, How deeply can I get into this muscle? and begin asking, How can I help this body feel safe enough to soften?

It is a shift from force to invitation.

From doing something to the body to working with it.

And that philosophy extends far beyond the psoas.

At Ho’omana Spa on Maui, we share these principles through the practice of Lomi Lomi and the traditional Hawaiian healing arts, helping bodyworkers deepen not only their techniques, but also the way they listen, connect, and work with the person on their table.

If you feel called to deepen your practice and experience these teachings in person, we would love to welcome you to Maui.

Ready to learn Lomi Lomi on Maui?

If you feel called to deepen your practice and learn the art of working with the body through Aloha, we invite you to join us in Maui.

Our next Lomi Lomi training begins on October 16th – a space to remember, reconnect, and embody this sacred work.
Find all the details here 

Aloha and a hui hou — until we meet again.

Jeana Iwalani Naluai
Native Hawaiian Healer & Lomi Lomi Lineage Holder
www.learnlomilomi.com