What your tight hamstrings are trying to tell you

The all too familiar feeling known to yogis, runners, gym-goers, and all athletes alike— tight hamstrings.  Made up of three muscles, the hamstrings play a huge role in posture function as well as movement within the body.  Multiple causes can contribute to tightness within these muscles which I will go over, but as you know our body is connected to our mind. Regardless of the physical contributors our energy body holds emotions and if trapped within the body, can lead to pain and tightness.  

This tightness could be stemming from your low back, which if tight will pull on these muscles causing the discomfort to spread. Other common causes include pore posture, repetitive movements, poor hip stability,  and genetically short hamstrings.

For most it is low back pain and hip strength. With weak hips your hamstrings will be over compensating rather than your core and hips stimulating the glute activation during strength training. Therefore, your back and legs will do all the work rather than the center of your body (core) propelling movements properly. In this case you should strengthen your hips and core but also take the time to relax and stretch.

I am here to tell you that no amount of yoga or strength training will open those hamstrings as much as diving into your own deep seeded issues and trauma that is being held within your cells.

Often when we feel tension in our bodies I believe we are holding onto something energetically or emotionally that has manifested physically. But what exactly are we holding onto?

When experiencing trauma which is a threat physically, emotionally or psychologically, our bodies react in a fight or flight mode. This is an unconscious body response that is woven into your cellular structure specifically in the back of the body (neck, back, gluten, calves, feet).  If you have specific pain in the hamstrings it may mean you tend to be a flight-er and look for the best way out fast in moments of stress. What boils down is your safety and need for survival which lies in the 1st chakra. Your body is trying to tell you to ground yourself so you feel safe to let go and allow your feelings to release. Release control and allow yourself to be vulnerable to the beautiful flow of life.

This is easier said than done and that is why yoga and meditation are important. Yoga and stretching will not help the deep issues but the use of yoga to move stagnant energy out of the body and drop into meditation is extremely powerful and useful. You must calm the mind and really look at how you are feeling and release past emotions by feeling them fully and realizing you are not that experience. After these traumas are released you must be present with your current self. Create so much self love that the darkness with the past can no longer co-exist with your faith in the light of the present.

Create love in all aspects of life.